First note, as many will notice later in the story, I have left out some
specific scenes for rating reasons. They are NC-17 and I will email those
parts to you only if you ask me for them. IF YOU WANT THESE PARTS, PUT
YOUR EMAIL, AGE, AND SCENES THAT YOU WANT TO READ ON AN EMAIL LABELED "TWO
WEEKS". Send this email to [email protected] to Wiccamage, and if you have any
comments or concerns whatsoever I'd appreciate them.
By the way, these are written as scenes at the top so I can keep track of them, but they are NOT written in script format. The location and date at the top of each scene is so neither any readers nor I get confused with the time and course of events.
Oh, while I'm at it. I don't own the X-Men or other characters. The Brawn is a group I came up with so I do technically own parts of them. Don't sue me. I have very little money anyhow. Not that I'd care if you tried, I'd probably just laugh at you.
~Wiccamage~ XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Two Weeks
Scene I Westchester, NY
9:30 p.m.
Storm and Rogue were sitting around the kitchen table sipping hot chocolate. The two friends were attempting to de-stress and find a bit of peace among the recent chaos.
Since Xavier's near death and his departure with Lilandra, it seemed as though every villain in the universe had attempted to stake a claim on Earth and its occupants.
Storm rested her elbows on the table and sighed deeply. She was dressed in a long sweater and jeans with a a pair of hiking boots adorning her feet. Rogue looked across to the weather witch and smiled. Even in the most comfortable and non-flattering clothing, she still had the air of a goddess.
Rogue herself had on a tank top and a pair of sweat pants with only socks to keep her feet warm. The two were merely sitting, enjoying the quiet and the moment of solitude to relax.
Storm directed a question to Rogue in her pronounced and dignified accent. "So Rogue, how are things between you and Gambit?"
Rogue scoffed, "Wha' things? Ah swear tha' man is as fickle as the Stock Market Storm! He jus' don' know what he wants."
The Southerner sighed grumpily, "Every time ah think he wants t' get serious, he pulls some half-witted stunt, or says somthin' t' make m' think otherwise."
"Perhaps Remy is merely afraid of a serious relationship." Ororo consoled before taking another sip of the chocolatey liquid.
"You're prob'ly rahght. After all, who wants t' fall in love with someone ya can't touch?"
"Rogue, you must not think that way. You will find a way to control your powers eventually. Until then, you must be patient. With both your powers and Gambit."
Storm rose gracefully then and rinsed her cup in the sink before placing it in the nearly empty dishwasher. Walking to the kitchen door, she removed her jacket from the coat-rack and slipped it on.
"Where ya goin'?" Rogue asked dejectedly. She really wanted to talk to someone right now, and while the peace was nice, she didn't feel like being alone.
"Forgive me my friend, I must attend to my plants. I am afraid I have neglected them in the last few days." Ororo opened the door and began to step out. She turned around after a moment though, "May we continue our conversation later tonight?"
Rogue smiled, "Sure suga'. Tha'd be great." Storm nodded in agreement before leaving Rogue to finish her hot chocolate.
XXXXX~XXXXX~XXXXX~XXXXX
Scene II
War Room
9:30 p.m.
Beast and Magneto were in the war room downstairs. Beast sat in a chair, clicking through mugshots of various people.
Magneto stood behind him, leaning on the back of the chair with one hand. Eric's cape and helmet had been discarded on a chair behind him and the men were studying each picture carefully.
"Do you really think we will find him this way Eric?" Beast inquired, his eyes never leaving the screen.
"We are running out of other options Henry. Cerebro has the most detailed criminal profile of any computer in the United States, mutant or otherwise. We must find the link between these recent mutant disappearances."
"Is there no indication that these men and women may have just moved, or gone on a vacation?" Beast removed his glasses and rubbed his eyes wearily.
"I do not believe so Henry. In each case, the neighbors claimed to see men in black uniforms and in selective cases, green gas coming from the victims homes."
"Why would anyone be kidnapping random mutants? Especially when there are much more powerful ones out there?" Beast looked questioningly up at the new leader of the X-Men.
"That I do not know my friend." The two looked at each other with worry on their faces.
XXXXX~XXXXX~XXXXX~XXXXX
Scene III Harry's Hideout
10:02 p.m.
"We playin' pool Cajun, or you just gonna sit there all night?" Wolverine yelled gruffly to his teammate.
"Just t'inkin' mon amie." Gambit replied to his comrade from his chair at the bar. He turned around and walked slowly over to the pool table.
As he picked up the stick and rubbed the chalk over the tip, his eyes sparkled mischievously.
"You ready t' lose Wolverine?" he mocked playfully.
"Quit yer yappin' and break all ready swamp-rat."
"All right frère, let da game begin!" Gambit hit the cue ball and sunk three solids instantly. Morph and Bobby looked over to the two competitors and Morph rolled his eyes before laughing maniacally.
Remy, Logan, Morph, and Bobby had come to the bar to workout some extra pent up frustration. Normally they would train in the Danger Room, but it was being repaired again, so the mutants decided to come to Harry's for a few drinks and a couple rounds of pool.
Morph and Bobby had decided to come along as well, but they refused to play pool with the other two. It wasn't that they weren't good, but Gambit had experience with hustling, and Logan had been playing pool for a very long time. Therefore, Bobby and Morph decided to stick to the drinks.
The two men at the bar were currently chatting up a couple of ditzy-looking blondes who seemed to have "easy" written all over them, while Remy and Logan battled it out at the pool table.
Normally, Remy would easily have the upper hand, but his mind was clearly elsewhere tonight, and Bobby was banking that it was on a certain X-Woman back at the Mansion.
XXXXX~XXXXX~XXXXX~XXXXX
Scene IV The Institute
10:55 p.m.
Storm lifted her hands in the air and created a rain cloud to cover her flowers. She picked up a package of plant food and began pouring small amounts into the pots. She noticed one plant particularly that seemed to be having a hard time, and she crouched down to inspect it.
As she was examining the flower, she heard something from overhead. Looking up, the wind-rider saw three helicopters hovering above the mansion and a green gas began to seep out of the windows and other openings.
"By the Goddess!" She cried and dropped the box of mulch. She rose and ran out of the greenhouse, calling upon the rain and lightening as she took to the night sky.
XXXXX~XXXXX~XXXXX~XXXXX
Scene V. Harry's Hideout
10:55 p.m.
One hour, and four and a half games later, the score was miraculously tied two to two, and Morph had now progressed to entertaining the masses with his referee/game announcer impersonations. He was rapidly switching from one persona to another and the bar patrons didn't seem to have much of a problem with his shape shifting.
The mutant had five girls in stitches as he continued his pool game commentary. Bobby also had a few girls on his arms and was getting a few laughs himself. Granted he couldn't turn himself into Tom Cruise or Brad Pitt, but he their attention nonetheless.
Morph shouted as he transformed into football announcer Howie Long. "Oh! And the Ragin' Cajun sinks another! Can he hold up to the pressure of the second shot? Will the untamable Wolverine finally get his opening?"
Morph transformed into himself and laughed characteristically, sending the girls into a laughing fit. Morph and Bobby were quite enjoying themselves as the girls leaned on them for support. Morph thought to himself as he shared a knowing glance with Bobby.
As Gambit lined up for his shot, Morph transformed his hand into a trumpet and blew into it as the red-eyed man took his shot.
Normally, Gambit wouldn't be bothered by the noise, but whereas he was off his game anyhow, he miss-fired and the cue ball went careening against the far wall.
Gambit turned calmly as the girls went into hysterics over Morph's stunt. Charming as ever, Remy sauntered up to his teammate.
"You t'ink dat's funny mes belles? Just wait 'til you see what Gambit be doin' to de homme. "#my beauties/beautiful; man#
Morph chuckled nervously and started to back away. "Now, now Gambit old pal. It was only a joke. You know, ha ha?"
"Well, le's see how much you be laughin' when Gambit blows yo'r pants off."
Gambit started to lunge towards Morph, but their battle was cut short when the far wall blew apart.
Men in black masks and uniforms came rushing through the smoking hole in the building. The girls all ran away screaming, and Morph and Bobby didn't look too happy about that fact. A few regulars looked towards the men, back to the mutants, shrugged, and went back to their beers. Harry himself sighed in frustration and went to the phone.
"Yeah, Jake? It's Harry again. Yep, another wall. You can be here in an hour? Great. Thanks again man. Huh? Oh yeah, drinks are on me. See ya soon." Harry hung up, shook his head and went to the back to retrieve the leaf blower for all of the dust and debris.
The men pointed their weapons towards the X-Men. "Freeze mutants!" one of the men yelled, raising his gun towards the four men.
Bobby began to raise his hands over his head in 'defeat.' "You got it man." At that moment, frozen water shot from Iceman's arms and covered the man's gun.
Chaos broke out as the X-Men began battling the party-crashers. Wolverine instinctively popped his claws with the familiar *snikt* sound, which automatically intimidated a few of the men.
Gambit charged up the cue stick briefly, before rolling his eyes and placing it back on the table unharmed. Last time they had trashed this place, he had gotten laundry duty for a month; sentence still pending. Gambit then took out his bo staff, deciding it wouldn't do as much damage as his powers would.
Morph transformed into the Hulk and began throwing the men out of the still smoldering hole, cracking jokes the entire time. Iceman aided the shape- shifter by creating an ice slide that led out of the building and down the nearby hill. The slide ended in a ramp that deposited the men in the lake.
One of the men pointed a taser-looking gun at Morph, but before he could fire, Logan shouted a warning.
"Morph down!" Morph dove away as the gun shot out an electrified bullet that made contact with a booth behind him, leaving a scorch-mark on the wood.
Gambit picked up the eight ball, charged it, and snapped it in the direction of a large group of the men. The intruders recognized the signature glow and bolted in all directions.
Up to that point, everything had pretty much been a free-for-all, but after Gambit's offensive move, the men became organized and seemed to be mainly concerned with the Cajun. Four men attacked him simultaneously, and Remy fought them off two at a time, not really concerning himself with the others.
Remy thought this would be an easy fight, but it soon became clear that the men were well trained and very prepared. Every time Gambit managed to knock off three or four men, five more joined the fray, and the swamp rat soon found himself overwhelmed.
Wolverine, Morph, and Bobby were slowly working their way towards Gambit when they heard him yell out in surprise. The men had somehow managed to pin him down and while he was immobilized, one of them had withdrawn a small syringe of his blood.
More gunshots were fired along with a few well-placed punches, when a voice came over one the mens' radios. There was a lot of static in the message, but the words came through sharply for the four X-Men.
"Team Two, objective. . . accomplished.. . . . We have her. Repeat, the mutant *crackle* . . . captured. Return . . base." As the transmission ended, the four X-Men looked at each other with worry. Before they could react however, the masked men disappeared in an orb of black light.
As Gambit got to his feet, his heart was gripped with horror, fear, hatred, and mostly, dread. Something was very wrong. He could feel it deep in his soul, in his very being. Bobby was the closest to the Cajun and rushed to his side as Gambit faltered on his feet.
Wolverine glanced towards Gambit, and even with all of the excitement and adrenaline running through his system, the look in the Cajun's eyes made Logan's blood run cold.
"We gotta get home. Now." Gambit's eyes conveyed all of his emotions as he tried to swallow his fears. Logan in turn nodded and gave a grunt before they all ran to the jeep.
XXXXX~XXXXX~XXXXX~XXXXX
Scene VI War Room
10:55 p.m.
Hank and Eric were in the midst of their computer search when a green, foul smelling gas rolled through the ventilation system.
"Hank? * coughs * What is happening?" Magneto fell to his knees, wheezing.
Beast attempted to get up, but fell to the floor as well. Mustering the last of his strength, he reached up and hit a red button on the counter before falling unconscious.
Scene VII Mansion Grounds
10:59 p.m.
Outside, the mansion's defense weaponry began to rise from the ground and building. Storm had just taken to the air and was currently trying to strike down the helicopters. She managed to hit the tail on one with a lightening bolt, but a turret from the ground-which was aiming for the helicopter-struck Storm from behind.
The weather witch fell to the ground with a scream as the helicopter's tail caught fire, sending the machine spiraling out of control. The two men inside jumped from the chopper before it hit the ground and managed to avoid the explosion as it crashed.
A second helicopter shot out the turrets and then landed on the grass to pick up the men. The pilot turned in his seat to speak with them.
"What about that one?" he shouted, pointing towards Storm who was laying on the grass unconscious.
"She ain't the one we're after." the other man called back. The pilot looked to Storm again and shrugged, taking the chopper to the air again.
XXXXX~XXXXX~XXXXX~XXXXX Scene VIII The Institute
10:54 p.m.
Rogue was upstairs deciding what to wear tomorrow for her date with Gambit. She was nervous about the entire situation, but was simultaneously excited. She picked out a dress made of green velvet. The style was that of a halter-top, and it came just to her knees in length. Knowing the dress left far too much bare skin, Rogue retrieved her black nylon bodysuit to go under the outfit.
The X-Man set the dress down on the chaise* by the window. (*Fainting chair) She looked at the dress and sighed. She was beginning to have second thoughts about the date, and while her heart told her to go for it, her head was screaming at her to protect herself and Remy.
Rogue turned from the window and balled her fists. She willed her eyes to stop watering, willed herself not to get lost in self-pity, but a single "rogue" tear escaped from the corner of her eye and drifted slowly down her cheek.
Lost in self-pity, Rogue collapsed to her knees, sobbing. Her tears were those of despair and anguish; the tears of a broken heart that could never be healed. Deep inside, Rogue knew that her problem could never be solved without the Professor. He had left with Lilandra after the assassination attempt, and with his departure, he took Rogue's only hope of one day being able to touch someone.
In the midst of her heaving sobs, Rogue suddenly found herself choking on a thick green smoke that had filled the room. She coughed violently, trying to expel the gas, but her gasps only helped draw more of it into her lungs.
Rising to her feet, Rogue raced to the window as she became lightheaded. As she tore open the window, she realized that her earlier theory of getting a "break" had been very wrong. Two black Apache helicopters hovered silently over the mansion and a third's tail was ablaze and going down quickly. Breathing in the clean air and deciding on a course of action, Rogue caught a streak of white falling from the sky. She recognized the figure instantly and immediately began to fly to her friend's aide.
She was half out the window when she was grabbed by the ankle and yanked back inside. Rogue deduced that the intruder had to be a mutant based on the amount of force he used as she hovered, face to face with a man wearing a gas mask. Hearing the window slam behind her, Rogue whirled around to find two more men standing behind her. One was carrying a gun and the other held a small syringe.
Rogue's eyes grew wide as she realized her situation. She began to cough from the smoke, and the men took the opportunity to surround her. As the first one approached her with the needle, she swung at him. The man soared through room and crashed into the vanity, shattering the mirror and splintering the smooth cedar.
The other two men grabbed her quickly and she threw them into the far wall. The mutant remained conscious however, and pulled out a walkie talkie.
"We need backup now!" His voice was harsh and ragged and the mere sound of it sent shudders down Rogue's spine. The Southern belle rushed towards the window once again and flew through the glass. Her attempt to escape was thwarted by a net which was draped across the windows,and she became entangled in it.
Startled, Rogue struggled against the ropes, trying to break free. The net began to close around her and Rogue realized that the trap was made of adamantium. Panicked, she managed to pull herself free and returned through the broken window and into her smoke-filled room.
Flying low to avoid the gas, Rogue took off down the hall coughing and crashing into the walls. Turning the corner she discovered the hallway was blocked by four men with odd looking guns. They fired on her and she narrowly avoided the plasma bullets.
The mutant felt the air from one bullet brush by her ear as she retreated. She was gripped with an intense fear that radiated through her bones. Her breathing became heavy and erratic as she twisted through the halls.
Rogue's strength seemed to seep from her body by the second and she dropped to her feet, too exhausted to fly any longer. Pushing herself to move, the river rat stumbled down the hall and turned another corner only to be greeted by three more men. Desperate, she ducked into her bedroom once more and prepared for a face off.
The men slowly entered the room and formed a large circle around her. Rogue tried to concentrate on the men, but her mind was foggy and unfocused. The room, once stable and inviting, swirled around her, twisting and lurching in every direction. She closed her eyes against the onslaught and when she opened them a second later she was staring up at the ceiling. She watched wearily as the masked men surrounded her. One man dropped to his knee and held a second syringe in front of him.
"Nap time sweetheart." His chuckle reverberated deep in his throat and Rogue felt herself becoming sick even as she lost consciousness.
XXXXX~XXXXX~XXXXX~XXXXX
Scene IX The Institute
11:21 p.m.
Gambit, Logan and the others came tearing up the road to the mansion with a deep fear radiating through their souls. As they neared the front doors, Gambit leaped from the speeding vehicle and bolted upstairs with a quickness that would have put Quicksilver to shame.
Logan halted the jeep abruptly and the three men began to follow their Cajun comrade when a moan was heard from across the lawn.
Wolverine extracted his claws while Bobby iced up and the two began to approach cautiously. Morph meanwhile commenced in inspecting the tree line to check for any hidden intruders.
Logan crept ahead of Bobby, and sniffed the air. A second, louder moan was heard and he spotted a head of white sprawled across the grass a few yards to the side. Wolverine immediately ran to Storm's side, convinced that the villans had fled the scene.
"Storm!" he cried when reaching her side, "What happened darlin'?" He lifted her gently into his lap as if she were a newborn and the woman winced with pain.
He words were broken and barely audible, but Ororo forced them out regardless. "Ambush. . .gas. . ." Heaving coughs wracked her body, and Logan tried to hush her. She opened her eyes once again after the pain subsided and stared Logan in the eyes.
Her crystal orbs were filled with grief and agony as she simply whispered a name. "Rogue."
Logan looked to Bobby who had changed to normal as Morph stood behind his companion. The three shared knowing glances as they simultaneously turned to the shattered second story window.
XXXXX~XXXXX~XXXXX~XXXXX
Scene X The Institute
11:21 p.m.
Gambit flew up the stairs four at a time and reached the top landing within seconds. He bolted down the halls at top speed, all the while taking in the damage along the walls. The hallways were shrouded with evidence of a major struggle and Gambit was hard-pressed not to gasp when he caught sight of the plasma bullets strewn hap-hazardously across the carpet. The fear welled up inside greater than ever, and the Cajun's paced increased as he pushed his body to the brink.
Breathing heavily, he slowed at Rogue's door, and with a shaking hand, twisted the handle. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath before opening the panel door, trying to convince himself that she would be standing in front of him as he did so.
His hopes were lost in a gust of wind however, as the night breeze streamed through the once cheery window. Shards of glass lay scattered across the soft carpet and the moon glanced through the clouds and filled the room with its sorrowful glare. The wind coarsely slapped at the curtains as they reached out towards the Cajun, trying to console him.
The cold seeped through him like icy waters as Gambit surveyed the desolate room. The vanity lay in splinters with the glass mirror as the glass joined with the pieces from the window. The wall bowed in from something being thrown against it.
~Most likely a person.~ Gambit considered silently. The idea gave him hope as he knew Rogue at least got a few good shots in before. . . He trailed off, afraid to finish the sentence.
As Gambit took a few aching steps, the glass crunched under his feet and his heart hitched with every breath.
"Rogue?" His whisper could barely be heard against the wind, and as realization settled in, the coldness that had started in Remy's hands encompassed his aching heart.
In his mind, Remy conjured a thousand scenarios, some ending with Rogue defeating the invaders, and others that ended in tragedy. As he walked around the other side of the bed, the Louisiana-raised thrill seeker let out a long, weary breath.
To his overwhelming relief, Rogue was not lying lifeless on the floor, but while still thankful, his fear for her safety was not extinguished.
The swamp rat bent down next to the bed as the strength seeped from his body. He aimlessly conjured some hundred plus "What if's" and "If only's," as he first blamed the others for Rogue's predicament. It did not take long however for him to decide that he himself was responsible for Rogue's disappearance.
After his initial depression, Remy jumped into the "X-Men mode" and pondered how he could possibly track Rogue's position and save her. His eyes grew wide as he remembered her com-link.
Remy pressed his hand to his com-watch and frantically tried to contact his friend.
"Rogue! Rogue! Answer me chere!" However, the only sound he heard was the echo of his own voice. Remy held his breath as he crouched down by the bed and peered underneath it. He nearly expected to see Rogue's body hidden under the frame, but remarkably, he only found her com-link.
As Remy reached for the belt, his eye caught a glint of glass. He reached toward it and pulled out a needle filled with a blue fluid. Rising from the floor, he sat on the bed while holding the syringe, never taking his eyes from it.
XXXXX~XXXXX~XXXXX~XXXXX
Scene XI The Mansion
11:25 p.m.
Logan cradled Storm gently in his arms as he followed Morph and Bobby into the mansion. Once inside, a thick scent of sweat, gunpowder, blood, and anxiety filled the Canadian's nostrils, and he immediately tensed as he recognized the smell of fear.
Morph and Iceman could sense Wolverine's mood change and the two went on the defensive.
"What is it Wolverine, what do you smell?" Morph questioned.
"Gas," he replied gruffly, sniffing the air once again, "And there were people here too."
Bobby iced up again, "Human or mutant?"
"Both, but the scent's weak. They booked it outta here a while ago." He stated while placing Storm gently on the couch. Bobby and Morph relaxed slightly, but the worry did not leave their faces.
"Take care o' Storm, I'm gonna check things out." Logan started for the stairs, but as he approached the elevator gave a distinctive "ding," announcing a new arrival.
Bobby and Morph moved into attack position once more and Wolverine approached the doors with a *snikt* of his claws.
As the door began to open, the tension level rose drastically in the room. Without thinking, Logan lunged towards the intruders, but was stopped short when his body was gripped by an invisible force. He was frozen in attack position momentarily, but as the door opened fully, he was released onto the floor with a *thud.*
Magneto and Beast emerged from the elevator choking violently. Eric regained his composure just long enough however, to curse at Wolverine.
"Damnit Logan!" *cough* "We thought you were the intruders. Don't ever do that again, I could have easily ripped you apart!" His hacking cough returned once again however, and he doubled over against the onslaught.
Logan got to his feet, retracted his claws, and snickered. "The only thing yer gonna tear apart right now Mag's, is yer lungs." Logan aided the man to a chair while Bobby supported Hank.
After they were sitting, Logan immediately began to question his barely coherent friends. "What happened here Eric? Who was here?" The question came angrily as Wolverine once again remembered the message the four men had caught on the radio.
"We were in the War Room when a green gas came through the vents. It knocked us out before we had time to react." Magneto fought another fit of choking before continuing. "They somehow bypassed our security, and destroyed the defense systems."
Logan looked worriedly up at the staircase, praying that Rogue had not fallen captive to the men, without wishing to concern Beast and Magneto. Eric however, picked up on Wolverine's mood and became instantly wary.
"Wolverine? What has happened? Is everyone all right?" A groan from Ororo interrupted Magneto's montage, and Logan once again started up the stairs. As he climbed the sturdy wooden steps, he called down to Beast. "Soon as ya can Beast, Storm's in bad need of a doctor."
Magneto was unsatisfied with Logan's departure though, and began to follow him, demanding answers. "Logan, Logan! I demand you to come back her immediately!" He began to head up the staircase when a bout of dizziness overtook him and Bobby rushed to support the Master of Magnetism on his feet.
"Iceman," he threatened lightly, "You will tell me what has transpired here at once!"
Bobby and Morph showed a knowing glance as the two teammates began the tragic tale.
XXXXX~XXXXX~XXXXX~XXXXX
Scene XII Rogue's Room
11:40 p.m.
Although Gambit heard the door creak open, and comprehended the Canadian's words of comfort, he did not glance away from the precious link of evidence he held in his hands. The man called Remy was currently in two separate realities. In the first, he sat just as he did, at the edge of his love's bed, listening and believing Logan's vows to retrieve their teammate.
In the second reality however, he was miles away in thought, contemplating the many ways of tracking Rogue, and simultaneously imagining himself rescuing her from the captives. The two worlds existed simultaneously, however it was the second world in which Gambit no longer felt helpless, and therefore he poured the majority of his attention into the fantasy.
Wolverine on the other hand was very much a part of the first reality, and was currently surveying the damage and replaying the scene in his head. He vividly imagined each moment conspiring during the five crucial minutes leading to Rogue's capture.
Just as a flashback in a movie, Logan's mind incorporated the black and white tones into the scene in his mind. He saw the one man crash against the vanity, as Rogue threw the second across the room and into the wall. He followed her flight through the door and into the hallway where his own two worlds clashed.
Magneto leaned heavily against the doorframe and absorbed the damage. Logan could easily see the anger rising in his face, and soon the crunch and groan of metal joined the Jewish man's ragged breathing.
Sparing a glance through the shambled window, Logan witnessed the helicopter turning inward on itself as Magneto vented his frustrations on the only physical evidence left behind by the men.
He lowered his voice and forced it into a soothing tone. "Easy now Mag's. Ya can't go destroying the only link we got t' these bastards." Eric apparently agreed with the statement and the screeching sound of metal on metal ceased.
Beast, Morph and Bobby soon joined the others and it was not the splattered glass nor the desolate room that made their hearts cold. Rather it was the sight of Gambit, slumped at the edge of the bed that made them loose hope.
Remy seemed broken somehow, like he had lost something that would never be returned. His posture screamed of defeat and self-torture, screamed of a man who had lost his cockiness and self-confidence.
His lack of arrogance was the clincher though. Gambit had a reputation to go headfirst into any situation and simply know he would come out on top. This time however, none of his usual characteristics shone through. There was no commentary of how he knew that Rogue would be okay. There were no reassurances that she would soon be safely returned. On that bed sat only a shell of a man who for the first time, was not sure of the outcome.
XXXXX~XXXXX~XXXXX~XXXXX
To be continued. . . Special thanks to Randirogue-I'm really glad you let me know about the problems. I'm so used to doing everything in novel form that I completely spaced that first section. The sentence with Bobby and the 'banking' statement helped a great deal too. Please continue to give me constructive criticisms like this. Thanks again everyone.
Love and Light, ~Wiccamage~
By the way, these are written as scenes at the top so I can keep track of them, but they are NOT written in script format. The location and date at the top of each scene is so neither any readers nor I get confused with the time and course of events.
Oh, while I'm at it. I don't own the X-Men or other characters. The Brawn is a group I came up with so I do technically own parts of them. Don't sue me. I have very little money anyhow. Not that I'd care if you tried, I'd probably just laugh at you.
~Wiccamage~ XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Two Weeks
Scene I Westchester, NY
9:30 p.m.
Storm and Rogue were sitting around the kitchen table sipping hot chocolate. The two friends were attempting to de-stress and find a bit of peace among the recent chaos.
Since Xavier's near death and his departure with Lilandra, it seemed as though every villain in the universe had attempted to stake a claim on Earth and its occupants.
Storm rested her elbows on the table and sighed deeply. She was dressed in a long sweater and jeans with a a pair of hiking boots adorning her feet. Rogue looked across to the weather witch and smiled. Even in the most comfortable and non-flattering clothing, she still had the air of a goddess.
Rogue herself had on a tank top and a pair of sweat pants with only socks to keep her feet warm. The two were merely sitting, enjoying the quiet and the moment of solitude to relax.
Storm directed a question to Rogue in her pronounced and dignified accent. "So Rogue, how are things between you and Gambit?"
Rogue scoffed, "Wha' things? Ah swear tha' man is as fickle as the Stock Market Storm! He jus' don' know what he wants."
The Southerner sighed grumpily, "Every time ah think he wants t' get serious, he pulls some half-witted stunt, or says somthin' t' make m' think otherwise."
"Perhaps Remy is merely afraid of a serious relationship." Ororo consoled before taking another sip of the chocolatey liquid.
"You're prob'ly rahght. After all, who wants t' fall in love with someone ya can't touch?"
"Rogue, you must not think that way. You will find a way to control your powers eventually. Until then, you must be patient. With both your powers and Gambit."
Storm rose gracefully then and rinsed her cup in the sink before placing it in the nearly empty dishwasher. Walking to the kitchen door, she removed her jacket from the coat-rack and slipped it on.
"Where ya goin'?" Rogue asked dejectedly. She really wanted to talk to someone right now, and while the peace was nice, she didn't feel like being alone.
"Forgive me my friend, I must attend to my plants. I am afraid I have neglected them in the last few days." Ororo opened the door and began to step out. She turned around after a moment though, "May we continue our conversation later tonight?"
Rogue smiled, "Sure suga'. Tha'd be great." Storm nodded in agreement before leaving Rogue to finish her hot chocolate.
XXXXX~XXXXX~XXXXX~XXXXX
Scene II
War Room
9:30 p.m.
Beast and Magneto were in the war room downstairs. Beast sat in a chair, clicking through mugshots of various people.
Magneto stood behind him, leaning on the back of the chair with one hand. Eric's cape and helmet had been discarded on a chair behind him and the men were studying each picture carefully.
"Do you really think we will find him this way Eric?" Beast inquired, his eyes never leaving the screen.
"We are running out of other options Henry. Cerebro has the most detailed criminal profile of any computer in the United States, mutant or otherwise. We must find the link between these recent mutant disappearances."
"Is there no indication that these men and women may have just moved, or gone on a vacation?" Beast removed his glasses and rubbed his eyes wearily.
"I do not believe so Henry. In each case, the neighbors claimed to see men in black uniforms and in selective cases, green gas coming from the victims homes."
"Why would anyone be kidnapping random mutants? Especially when there are much more powerful ones out there?" Beast looked questioningly up at the new leader of the X-Men.
"That I do not know my friend." The two looked at each other with worry on their faces.
XXXXX~XXXXX~XXXXX~XXXXX
Scene III Harry's Hideout
10:02 p.m.
"We playin' pool Cajun, or you just gonna sit there all night?" Wolverine yelled gruffly to his teammate.
"Just t'inkin' mon amie." Gambit replied to his comrade from his chair at the bar. He turned around and walked slowly over to the pool table.
As he picked up the stick and rubbed the chalk over the tip, his eyes sparkled mischievously.
"You ready t' lose Wolverine?" he mocked playfully.
"Quit yer yappin' and break all ready swamp-rat."
"All right frère, let da game begin!" Gambit hit the cue ball and sunk three solids instantly. Morph and Bobby looked over to the two competitors and Morph rolled his eyes before laughing maniacally.
Remy, Logan, Morph, and Bobby had come to the bar to workout some extra pent up frustration. Normally they would train in the Danger Room, but it was being repaired again, so the mutants decided to come to Harry's for a few drinks and a couple rounds of pool.
Morph and Bobby had decided to come along as well, but they refused to play pool with the other two. It wasn't that they weren't good, but Gambit had experience with hustling, and Logan had been playing pool for a very long time. Therefore, Bobby and Morph decided to stick to the drinks.
The two men at the bar were currently chatting up a couple of ditzy-looking blondes who seemed to have "easy" written all over them, while Remy and Logan battled it out at the pool table.
Normally, Remy would easily have the upper hand, but his mind was clearly elsewhere tonight, and Bobby was banking that it was on a certain X-Woman back at the Mansion.
XXXXX~XXXXX~XXXXX~XXXXX
Scene IV The Institute
10:55 p.m.
Storm lifted her hands in the air and created a rain cloud to cover her flowers. She picked up a package of plant food and began pouring small amounts into the pots. She noticed one plant particularly that seemed to be having a hard time, and she crouched down to inspect it.
As she was examining the flower, she heard something from overhead. Looking up, the wind-rider saw three helicopters hovering above the mansion and a green gas began to seep out of the windows and other openings.
"By the Goddess!" She cried and dropped the box of mulch. She rose and ran out of the greenhouse, calling upon the rain and lightening as she took to the night sky.
XXXXX~XXXXX~XXXXX~XXXXX
Scene V. Harry's Hideout
10:55 p.m.
One hour, and four and a half games later, the score was miraculously tied two to two, and Morph had now progressed to entertaining the masses with his referee/game announcer impersonations. He was rapidly switching from one persona to another and the bar patrons didn't seem to have much of a problem with his shape shifting.
The mutant had five girls in stitches as he continued his pool game commentary. Bobby also had a few girls on his arms and was getting a few laughs himself. Granted he couldn't turn himself into Tom Cruise or Brad Pitt, but he their attention nonetheless.
Morph shouted as he transformed into football announcer Howie Long. "Oh! And the Ragin' Cajun sinks another! Can he hold up to the pressure of the second shot? Will the untamable Wolverine finally get his opening?"
Morph transformed into himself and laughed characteristically, sending the girls into a laughing fit. Morph and Bobby were quite enjoying themselves as the girls leaned on them for support. Morph thought to himself as he shared a knowing glance with Bobby.
As Gambit lined up for his shot, Morph transformed his hand into a trumpet and blew into it as the red-eyed man took his shot.
Normally, Gambit wouldn't be bothered by the noise, but whereas he was off his game anyhow, he miss-fired and the cue ball went careening against the far wall.
Gambit turned calmly as the girls went into hysterics over Morph's stunt. Charming as ever, Remy sauntered up to his teammate.
"You t'ink dat's funny mes belles? Just wait 'til you see what Gambit be doin' to de homme. "#my beauties/beautiful; man#
Morph chuckled nervously and started to back away. "Now, now Gambit old pal. It was only a joke. You know, ha ha?"
"Well, le's see how much you be laughin' when Gambit blows yo'r pants off."
Gambit started to lunge towards Morph, but their battle was cut short when the far wall blew apart.
Men in black masks and uniforms came rushing through the smoking hole in the building. The girls all ran away screaming, and Morph and Bobby didn't look too happy about that fact. A few regulars looked towards the men, back to the mutants, shrugged, and went back to their beers. Harry himself sighed in frustration and went to the phone.
"Yeah, Jake? It's Harry again. Yep, another wall. You can be here in an hour? Great. Thanks again man. Huh? Oh yeah, drinks are on me. See ya soon." Harry hung up, shook his head and went to the back to retrieve the leaf blower for all of the dust and debris.
The men pointed their weapons towards the X-Men. "Freeze mutants!" one of the men yelled, raising his gun towards the four men.
Bobby began to raise his hands over his head in 'defeat.' "You got it man." At that moment, frozen water shot from Iceman's arms and covered the man's gun.
Chaos broke out as the X-Men began battling the party-crashers. Wolverine instinctively popped his claws with the familiar *snikt* sound, which automatically intimidated a few of the men.
Gambit charged up the cue stick briefly, before rolling his eyes and placing it back on the table unharmed. Last time they had trashed this place, he had gotten laundry duty for a month; sentence still pending. Gambit then took out his bo staff, deciding it wouldn't do as much damage as his powers would.
Morph transformed into the Hulk and began throwing the men out of the still smoldering hole, cracking jokes the entire time. Iceman aided the shape- shifter by creating an ice slide that led out of the building and down the nearby hill. The slide ended in a ramp that deposited the men in the lake.
One of the men pointed a taser-looking gun at Morph, but before he could fire, Logan shouted a warning.
"Morph down!" Morph dove away as the gun shot out an electrified bullet that made contact with a booth behind him, leaving a scorch-mark on the wood.
Gambit picked up the eight ball, charged it, and snapped it in the direction of a large group of the men. The intruders recognized the signature glow and bolted in all directions.
Up to that point, everything had pretty much been a free-for-all, but after Gambit's offensive move, the men became organized and seemed to be mainly concerned with the Cajun. Four men attacked him simultaneously, and Remy fought them off two at a time, not really concerning himself with the others.
Remy thought this would be an easy fight, but it soon became clear that the men were well trained and very prepared. Every time Gambit managed to knock off three or four men, five more joined the fray, and the swamp rat soon found himself overwhelmed.
Wolverine, Morph, and Bobby were slowly working their way towards Gambit when they heard him yell out in surprise. The men had somehow managed to pin him down and while he was immobilized, one of them had withdrawn a small syringe of his blood.
More gunshots were fired along with a few well-placed punches, when a voice came over one the mens' radios. There was a lot of static in the message, but the words came through sharply for the four X-Men.
"Team Two, objective. . . accomplished.. . . . We have her. Repeat, the mutant *crackle* . . . captured. Return . . base." As the transmission ended, the four X-Men looked at each other with worry. Before they could react however, the masked men disappeared in an orb of black light.
As Gambit got to his feet, his heart was gripped with horror, fear, hatred, and mostly, dread. Something was very wrong. He could feel it deep in his soul, in his very being. Bobby was the closest to the Cajun and rushed to his side as Gambit faltered on his feet.
Wolverine glanced towards Gambit, and even with all of the excitement and adrenaline running through his system, the look in the Cajun's eyes made Logan's blood run cold.
"We gotta get home. Now." Gambit's eyes conveyed all of his emotions as he tried to swallow his fears. Logan in turn nodded and gave a grunt before they all ran to the jeep.
XXXXX~XXXXX~XXXXX~XXXXX
Scene VI War Room
10:55 p.m.
Hank and Eric were in the midst of their computer search when a green, foul smelling gas rolled through the ventilation system.
"Hank? * coughs * What is happening?" Magneto fell to his knees, wheezing.
Beast attempted to get up, but fell to the floor as well. Mustering the last of his strength, he reached up and hit a red button on the counter before falling unconscious.
Scene VII Mansion Grounds
10:59 p.m.
Outside, the mansion's defense weaponry began to rise from the ground and building. Storm had just taken to the air and was currently trying to strike down the helicopters. She managed to hit the tail on one with a lightening bolt, but a turret from the ground-which was aiming for the helicopter-struck Storm from behind.
The weather witch fell to the ground with a scream as the helicopter's tail caught fire, sending the machine spiraling out of control. The two men inside jumped from the chopper before it hit the ground and managed to avoid the explosion as it crashed.
A second helicopter shot out the turrets and then landed on the grass to pick up the men. The pilot turned in his seat to speak with them.
"What about that one?" he shouted, pointing towards Storm who was laying on the grass unconscious.
"She ain't the one we're after." the other man called back. The pilot looked to Storm again and shrugged, taking the chopper to the air again.
XXXXX~XXXXX~XXXXX~XXXXX Scene VIII The Institute
10:54 p.m.
Rogue was upstairs deciding what to wear tomorrow for her date with Gambit. She was nervous about the entire situation, but was simultaneously excited. She picked out a dress made of green velvet. The style was that of a halter-top, and it came just to her knees in length. Knowing the dress left far too much bare skin, Rogue retrieved her black nylon bodysuit to go under the outfit.
The X-Man set the dress down on the chaise* by the window. (*Fainting chair) She looked at the dress and sighed. She was beginning to have second thoughts about the date, and while her heart told her to go for it, her head was screaming at her to protect herself and Remy.
Rogue turned from the window and balled her fists. She willed her eyes to stop watering, willed herself not to get lost in self-pity, but a single "rogue" tear escaped from the corner of her eye and drifted slowly down her cheek.
Lost in self-pity, Rogue collapsed to her knees, sobbing. Her tears were those of despair and anguish; the tears of a broken heart that could never be healed. Deep inside, Rogue knew that her problem could never be solved without the Professor. He had left with Lilandra after the assassination attempt, and with his departure, he took Rogue's only hope of one day being able to touch someone.
In the midst of her heaving sobs, Rogue suddenly found herself choking on a thick green smoke that had filled the room. She coughed violently, trying to expel the gas, but her gasps only helped draw more of it into her lungs.
Rising to her feet, Rogue raced to the window as she became lightheaded. As she tore open the window, she realized that her earlier theory of getting a "break" had been very wrong. Two black Apache helicopters hovered silently over the mansion and a third's tail was ablaze and going down quickly. Breathing in the clean air and deciding on a course of action, Rogue caught a streak of white falling from the sky. She recognized the figure instantly and immediately began to fly to her friend's aide.
She was half out the window when she was grabbed by the ankle and yanked back inside. Rogue deduced that the intruder had to be a mutant based on the amount of force he used as she hovered, face to face with a man wearing a gas mask. Hearing the window slam behind her, Rogue whirled around to find two more men standing behind her. One was carrying a gun and the other held a small syringe.
Rogue's eyes grew wide as she realized her situation. She began to cough from the smoke, and the men took the opportunity to surround her. As the first one approached her with the needle, she swung at him. The man soared through room and crashed into the vanity, shattering the mirror and splintering the smooth cedar.
The other two men grabbed her quickly and she threw them into the far wall. The mutant remained conscious however, and pulled out a walkie talkie.
"We need backup now!" His voice was harsh and ragged and the mere sound of it sent shudders down Rogue's spine. The Southern belle rushed towards the window once again and flew through the glass. Her attempt to escape was thwarted by a net which was draped across the windows,and she became entangled in it.
Startled, Rogue struggled against the ropes, trying to break free. The net began to close around her and Rogue realized that the trap was made of adamantium. Panicked, she managed to pull herself free and returned through the broken window and into her smoke-filled room.
Flying low to avoid the gas, Rogue took off down the hall coughing and crashing into the walls. Turning the corner she discovered the hallway was blocked by four men with odd looking guns. They fired on her and she narrowly avoided the plasma bullets.
The mutant felt the air from one bullet brush by her ear as she retreated. She was gripped with an intense fear that radiated through her bones. Her breathing became heavy and erratic as she twisted through the halls.
Rogue's strength seemed to seep from her body by the second and she dropped to her feet, too exhausted to fly any longer. Pushing herself to move, the river rat stumbled down the hall and turned another corner only to be greeted by three more men. Desperate, she ducked into her bedroom once more and prepared for a face off.
The men slowly entered the room and formed a large circle around her. Rogue tried to concentrate on the men, but her mind was foggy and unfocused. The room, once stable and inviting, swirled around her, twisting and lurching in every direction. She closed her eyes against the onslaught and when she opened them a second later she was staring up at the ceiling. She watched wearily as the masked men surrounded her. One man dropped to his knee and held a second syringe in front of him.
"Nap time sweetheart." His chuckle reverberated deep in his throat and Rogue felt herself becoming sick even as she lost consciousness.
XXXXX~XXXXX~XXXXX~XXXXX
Scene IX The Institute
11:21 p.m.
Gambit, Logan and the others came tearing up the road to the mansion with a deep fear radiating through their souls. As they neared the front doors, Gambit leaped from the speeding vehicle and bolted upstairs with a quickness that would have put Quicksilver to shame.
Logan halted the jeep abruptly and the three men began to follow their Cajun comrade when a moan was heard from across the lawn.
Wolverine extracted his claws while Bobby iced up and the two began to approach cautiously. Morph meanwhile commenced in inspecting the tree line to check for any hidden intruders.
Logan crept ahead of Bobby, and sniffed the air. A second, louder moan was heard and he spotted a head of white sprawled across the grass a few yards to the side. Wolverine immediately ran to Storm's side, convinced that the villans had fled the scene.
"Storm!" he cried when reaching her side, "What happened darlin'?" He lifted her gently into his lap as if she were a newborn and the woman winced with pain.
He words were broken and barely audible, but Ororo forced them out regardless. "Ambush. . .gas. . ." Heaving coughs wracked her body, and Logan tried to hush her. She opened her eyes once again after the pain subsided and stared Logan in the eyes.
Her crystal orbs were filled with grief and agony as she simply whispered a name. "Rogue."
Logan looked to Bobby who had changed to normal as Morph stood behind his companion. The three shared knowing glances as they simultaneously turned to the shattered second story window.
XXXXX~XXXXX~XXXXX~XXXXX
Scene X The Institute
11:21 p.m.
Gambit flew up the stairs four at a time and reached the top landing within seconds. He bolted down the halls at top speed, all the while taking in the damage along the walls. The hallways were shrouded with evidence of a major struggle and Gambit was hard-pressed not to gasp when he caught sight of the plasma bullets strewn hap-hazardously across the carpet. The fear welled up inside greater than ever, and the Cajun's paced increased as he pushed his body to the brink.
Breathing heavily, he slowed at Rogue's door, and with a shaking hand, twisted the handle. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath before opening the panel door, trying to convince himself that she would be standing in front of him as he did so.
His hopes were lost in a gust of wind however, as the night breeze streamed through the once cheery window. Shards of glass lay scattered across the soft carpet and the moon glanced through the clouds and filled the room with its sorrowful glare. The wind coarsely slapped at the curtains as they reached out towards the Cajun, trying to console him.
The cold seeped through him like icy waters as Gambit surveyed the desolate room. The vanity lay in splinters with the glass mirror as the glass joined with the pieces from the window. The wall bowed in from something being thrown against it.
~Most likely a person.~ Gambit considered silently. The idea gave him hope as he knew Rogue at least got a few good shots in before. . . He trailed off, afraid to finish the sentence.
As Gambit took a few aching steps, the glass crunched under his feet and his heart hitched with every breath.
"Rogue?" His whisper could barely be heard against the wind, and as realization settled in, the coldness that had started in Remy's hands encompassed his aching heart.
In his mind, Remy conjured a thousand scenarios, some ending with Rogue defeating the invaders, and others that ended in tragedy. As he walked around the other side of the bed, the Louisiana-raised thrill seeker let out a long, weary breath.
To his overwhelming relief, Rogue was not lying lifeless on the floor, but while still thankful, his fear for her safety was not extinguished.
The swamp rat bent down next to the bed as the strength seeped from his body. He aimlessly conjured some hundred plus "What if's" and "If only's," as he first blamed the others for Rogue's predicament. It did not take long however for him to decide that he himself was responsible for Rogue's disappearance.
After his initial depression, Remy jumped into the "X-Men mode" and pondered how he could possibly track Rogue's position and save her. His eyes grew wide as he remembered her com-link.
Remy pressed his hand to his com-watch and frantically tried to contact his friend.
"Rogue! Rogue! Answer me chere!" However, the only sound he heard was the echo of his own voice. Remy held his breath as he crouched down by the bed and peered underneath it. He nearly expected to see Rogue's body hidden under the frame, but remarkably, he only found her com-link.
As Remy reached for the belt, his eye caught a glint of glass. He reached toward it and pulled out a needle filled with a blue fluid. Rising from the floor, he sat on the bed while holding the syringe, never taking his eyes from it.
XXXXX~XXXXX~XXXXX~XXXXX
Scene XI The Mansion
11:25 p.m.
Logan cradled Storm gently in his arms as he followed Morph and Bobby into the mansion. Once inside, a thick scent of sweat, gunpowder, blood, and anxiety filled the Canadian's nostrils, and he immediately tensed as he recognized the smell of fear.
Morph and Iceman could sense Wolverine's mood change and the two went on the defensive.
"What is it Wolverine, what do you smell?" Morph questioned.
"Gas," he replied gruffly, sniffing the air once again, "And there were people here too."
Bobby iced up again, "Human or mutant?"
"Both, but the scent's weak. They booked it outta here a while ago." He stated while placing Storm gently on the couch. Bobby and Morph relaxed slightly, but the worry did not leave their faces.
"Take care o' Storm, I'm gonna check things out." Logan started for the stairs, but as he approached the elevator gave a distinctive "ding," announcing a new arrival.
Bobby and Morph moved into attack position once more and Wolverine approached the doors with a *snikt* of his claws.
As the door began to open, the tension level rose drastically in the room. Without thinking, Logan lunged towards the intruders, but was stopped short when his body was gripped by an invisible force. He was frozen in attack position momentarily, but as the door opened fully, he was released onto the floor with a *thud.*
Magneto and Beast emerged from the elevator choking violently. Eric regained his composure just long enough however, to curse at Wolverine.
"Damnit Logan!" *cough* "We thought you were the intruders. Don't ever do that again, I could have easily ripped you apart!" His hacking cough returned once again however, and he doubled over against the onslaught.
Logan got to his feet, retracted his claws, and snickered. "The only thing yer gonna tear apart right now Mag's, is yer lungs." Logan aided the man to a chair while Bobby supported Hank.
After they were sitting, Logan immediately began to question his barely coherent friends. "What happened here Eric? Who was here?" The question came angrily as Wolverine once again remembered the message the four men had caught on the radio.
"We were in the War Room when a green gas came through the vents. It knocked us out before we had time to react." Magneto fought another fit of choking before continuing. "They somehow bypassed our security, and destroyed the defense systems."
Logan looked worriedly up at the staircase, praying that Rogue had not fallen captive to the men, without wishing to concern Beast and Magneto. Eric however, picked up on Wolverine's mood and became instantly wary.
"Wolverine? What has happened? Is everyone all right?" A groan from Ororo interrupted Magneto's montage, and Logan once again started up the stairs. As he climbed the sturdy wooden steps, he called down to Beast. "Soon as ya can Beast, Storm's in bad need of a doctor."
Magneto was unsatisfied with Logan's departure though, and began to follow him, demanding answers. "Logan, Logan! I demand you to come back her immediately!" He began to head up the staircase when a bout of dizziness overtook him and Bobby rushed to support the Master of Magnetism on his feet.
"Iceman," he threatened lightly, "You will tell me what has transpired here at once!"
Bobby and Morph showed a knowing glance as the two teammates began the tragic tale.
XXXXX~XXXXX~XXXXX~XXXXX
Scene XII Rogue's Room
11:40 p.m.
Although Gambit heard the door creak open, and comprehended the Canadian's words of comfort, he did not glance away from the precious link of evidence he held in his hands. The man called Remy was currently in two separate realities. In the first, he sat just as he did, at the edge of his love's bed, listening and believing Logan's vows to retrieve their teammate.
In the second reality however, he was miles away in thought, contemplating the many ways of tracking Rogue, and simultaneously imagining himself rescuing her from the captives. The two worlds existed simultaneously, however it was the second world in which Gambit no longer felt helpless, and therefore he poured the majority of his attention into the fantasy.
Wolverine on the other hand was very much a part of the first reality, and was currently surveying the damage and replaying the scene in his head. He vividly imagined each moment conspiring during the five crucial minutes leading to Rogue's capture.
Just as a flashback in a movie, Logan's mind incorporated the black and white tones into the scene in his mind. He saw the one man crash against the vanity, as Rogue threw the second across the room and into the wall. He followed her flight through the door and into the hallway where his own two worlds clashed.
Magneto leaned heavily against the doorframe and absorbed the damage. Logan could easily see the anger rising in his face, and soon the crunch and groan of metal joined the Jewish man's ragged breathing.
Sparing a glance through the shambled window, Logan witnessed the helicopter turning inward on itself as Magneto vented his frustrations on the only physical evidence left behind by the men.
He lowered his voice and forced it into a soothing tone. "Easy now Mag's. Ya can't go destroying the only link we got t' these bastards." Eric apparently agreed with the statement and the screeching sound of metal on metal ceased.
Beast, Morph and Bobby soon joined the others and it was not the splattered glass nor the desolate room that made their hearts cold. Rather it was the sight of Gambit, slumped at the edge of the bed that made them loose hope.
Remy seemed broken somehow, like he had lost something that would never be returned. His posture screamed of defeat and self-torture, screamed of a man who had lost his cockiness and self-confidence.
His lack of arrogance was the clincher though. Gambit had a reputation to go headfirst into any situation and simply know he would come out on top. This time however, none of his usual characteristics shone through. There was no commentary of how he knew that Rogue would be okay. There were no reassurances that she would soon be safely returned. On that bed sat only a shell of a man who for the first time, was not sure of the outcome.
XXXXX~XXXXX~XXXXX~XXXXX
To be continued. . . Special thanks to Randirogue-I'm really glad you let me know about the problems. I'm so used to doing everything in novel form that I completely spaced that first section. The sentence with Bobby and the 'banking' statement helped a great deal too. Please continue to give me constructive criticisms like this. Thanks again everyone.
Love and Light, ~Wiccamage~