PROFESSOR XAVIER'S STUDY
"Cerebro, locate all news reports on the night of Haley's dissapearence," Xavier said. He had been in his study since the day before trying to figure out where Haley had gone. He needed his sleep but the information was too vital. Maybe if he found out where Haley was he could find Rogue and Gambit.
"Chuck," he heard from the doorway. "You need your rest."
"I'll sleep as soon as I read through the reports Logan," Xavier said scrolling down the computer screen.
"Jeany told me ta come and get ya. You're no good to the team if your exhausted," Logan said.
Xavier nodded. He followed Wolverine out of his office. As the door shut a figure materialized out of the shadows. Switchback stood by the computer. I know you think you know what's best for me Charles but I can't deal with you right now. Not you or mom and dad. Not after what I've done. She typed some words into the computer and deleted a couple of reports. She looked at a picture on Xavier's desk. A woman with blond hair was standing by Xavier holding a three year old girl. A man stood on the other side of Xavier. Mom, dad. Then she vanished.
SINISTER'S BASE
Gambit followed Sinister down the corridor. "Where's Rogue?" he asked.
"Safe," Sinister said as they entered a room. It looked a lot like the X-men's War Room to Gambit. Jon, Charley, Rashelle, and Switchback sat at the table. "Remy!" Rashelle said and ran to him.
Remy smiled and gave her a hug. "How y'doin' p'tite?" he asked.
"Okay," she said. "Rogue's fine. I'm in charge of watching her. She's really nice and . . ."
"Rashelle," Sinister interrupted. Rashelle stopped talking and bit her lip.
"T'anks p'tite," Gambit said.
"Have a seat Remy, Rashelle," Sinister said.
The two sat down. Remy looked around at them. Jon sat looking at him angrily as did Charley. Switchback looked as though her mind was elsewhere and Rashelle was all smiles. "Watcha be needin' me t'do," Gambit asked folding his arms.
Sinister turned and faced a video screen. A picture flashed on it. It was an old man in a laboratory uniform with the letters MRC in red. "This is Theodore Burnam. He is a genetic scientist who had been doing research for MRC. He died a couple months ago. All of his records about his research are stored here," Sinister said. A white washed building flashed onto the screen. The letters MRC were on it. "The US government has been trying to keep secret his findings on such things as the legacy virus and the reason for different 'Classes' of mutants. I need that research."
"So send Jon and Charley in t'blow de place up and get it," Remy said.
"I need someone with quick hands to get the information and get out of there without being noticed," Sinister said.
"Switchback can do dat," Remy said.
"The security sensors would detect her mutant ability and the alarms would go off," Sinister said. "Doctor Burnam knew that mutant researchers such as myself would want his research so he made sure the buildings alarms would go off if someone used their mutant ability to try to get in or out. So I need someone who can get the information out of the computer without using their mutant power. The only person I know who can do that is you."
"I be de third best Master T'ief in de world mon frere. Dat means deres two better den me. Why not ask dem?" Gambit said.
"They'd want something for it. Money perhaps. I already have what you want," Sinister said.
Gambit looked at him his eyes narrowing. "The maps of the building are in the computer. I suggest you study them. You'll have five minutes before the alarms will detect a human form and go off. If they do or you don't make it back here with the information say good-bye to Rogue," Sinister said.
"I know de rules," Gambit said.
"Rashelle you can take him to see Rogue," Sinister said. "The rest of you know what your suppose to do."
Gambit followed Rashelle down the corridor. "He's usually not like that Remy," Rashelle started.
"No," Remy interupted. "He's meaner."
Rashelle looked down as they walked. Remy looked at her. She was scared. "What y'fraid of?" he asked taking a ciggarette out of his coat pocket.
"Nothing," she said. "Mr. Sinister doesn't like smoking Remy. You know that."
Remy lit the cigarette. "Maybe I don't care anymore p'tite," Remy said.
Rashelle nodded. She stopped before a doorway. "She's in there," she said. "I wouldn't try escaping with her. As soon as you walk in your powers will be negated."
"T'anks f'de info," he said. "Y'not commin' in?"
"Thought you'd want to talk to her alone," Rashelle said. "And Remy."
"Yes p'tite," he said looking at her.
"She knows," Rashelle said opening the doors.
Remy nodded and walked in. The doors shut as soon as he was in. He saw Rogue in the 'cage'. She was looking at him. Tears in her eyes. He threw the cigarette away and walked over to the 'cage'. He put his hand through the beam. Nothing happened so he walked through. The two stared at each other not knowing what to say. "Chere," Remy whispered not wanting to look in her eyes and see the blame. He looked at the wall and felt her arms rap around his neck. He looked down at her. Her eyes showed love, happiness, and concern. He looked closely for anything that showed she blamed him but didn't see it. He pulled her close and her tears spilled. He wrapped his arms around her and rocked her gently.
"Remy," she whispered after a while. "Ya not a monstah." He looked down at her. "Ya didn't know what he did ta them. "
Gambit felt a sob escape him. "But I still brought dem t'him. It be my fault dey dead," he said.
Rogue brushed his tears away. "No it isn't. Would ya have brought them if ya knew?" Rogue asked.
"Non!" he said. "I stopped as soon as I found out." His voice was distorted by the pain he felt tearing him apart. "Dey all dead though Rogue. I helped kill dem. I be a monster."
"You didn't know," Rogue said.
"But I brought dem," he said hiccuping as the tears flowed.
Rogue pulled him close. She knew she wouldn't be able to reason with him, not now anyway. She stroked his hair. It's not yoah fault, she thought.
Sinister walked into the laboratory. Twenty glass cylinders were lined against the walls with a table in the middle of the room and lab equipment beside it. He frowned as he counted how many cylinders were in use. Eight. He'd need more 'volunteers' soon. He sighed and walked over to a cylinder. He pushed the button to open the door to the cylinder. The young woman cowered on the otherside of the cell. He grabbed her by the neck and brought her over to the table. He strapped her down and picked up a scalpel. She was a new specimen. Jon had brought her in a couple days ago. Usually he waited two weeks before dissecting them but with his limited supply he couldn't afford to wait. The woman screamed as he began to cut her stomach apart.
Sinister turned as he heard the door open. Jon walked in. "Sorry to disturb you sir," Jon said. "But I believe you need something done about a certain child whom is here."
"Rashelle," Sinister said turning back to his work. The woman's screaming had stopped. She was unconscious.
"Yes," Jon said.
"Afraid she'll tell Remy the truth about Sarah's death," Sinister said.
Jon nodded. "How should I deal with her," Jon asked.
"However you wish," Sinister said. "She's of no use to me anymore."
"Thank you sir," he said turning.
"Oh Jonathan," Sinister said. Jon turned around. "Rogue knows also. You are not to deal with her."
"Yes sir," he said and walked out the door.
Sinister layed down the scalpel and looked at his finding amazed. A small fetus was in the woman's stomach. "Hmm," he said picking it up. It gave him an idea. He smiled happily.
Rashelle blended into the shadows as best as she could as Jon passed. He's going to try to kill me, she thought. What am I going to do? She looked down the hallway and saw him turn down a corridor. Remy. Have to get to Remy. Rashelle ran down the hallway as fast as she could to where she'd left him with Rogue. She tripped over something and fell to the floor. The impact was hard and painful. She looked up to see Jon standing over her. Oh god no.
"Where you going to in such a rush Shelle?" he asked.
Rashelle sat up an looked at him. "Just need to check on Remy and Rogue," she said.
He looked at her. "You heard us talking?" Jon said.
"I don't know what your talking about," she lied.
"Too bad I don't believe you," he said and kicked her hard. She doubled over in pain and felt another kick to her back before she blacked out.
"What does he want you ta do?" Rogue asked.
"Nothin' y'need t'know about chere," Remy said brushing her hair.
"Ya'll are doin' it ta save mah life. Ah think Ah have a right ta know what it's about," Rogue said shifting her body so she could look at him.
Remy nodded. "I'm stealin' some information for him," Remy said.
Rogue nodded and laid her head on his chest. It was comfertable except for the damn collar on her neck. She closed her eyes and sighed. She thought she heard something. Her eyes opened. She wasn't with Remy anymore though. She was standing above Sarah's body. The girl was the ghostly white like before. Rogue backed up. The child looked at her. Her eyes pleading. "Ah don't know how ta avenge yoah death," Rogue said looking at the child.
Save Rashelle the child said.
"What? Why?" Rogue said.
He's going to kill her. Save her.
"Who's going to kill her?"
Jon.
Rogue's eyes snapped open. She was in the cell again. Remy was above her and she was laying on her back. Everything was blurry. She saw Sinister and some girl with blond hair standing above Remy. "Chere," Remy said. "Y'okay? Y'blacked out f'a moment and den y'pulse went real fast."
"Where's Rashelle?" she asked.
"Don't know," Remy said."Why Rogue. What's wrong?"
"Have ta find her. He's going ta kill her," she said sitting up. Her head began to pound and her eyes still weren't focusing right. This hadn't happened last time.
"Who's going to kill her?" Remy asked.
Rogue saw Jon. He was smiling when he came in. "It's too late," Rogue said. "She's dead isn't she?"
Jon's smile faded. "Who y'talking t'Rogue," Remy asked trying to get her to lie back down. "Can y'get a glass of water?" he asked Switchback.
"Jon," Rogue said pushing Remy's hands away. She wanted to look Jon in the eye. "Ya killed her like ya did Sarah, didn't ya?"
Jon's eyes narrowed. Remy turned to him. "Jon?"
"She's hallucinating Remy," Jon said.
"Am not," Rogue said. She looked at Remy. Everything began to spin. "Don't let him kill her Remy. She doesn't deserve ta die."
Rogue fell back unconscious. Remy picked her up. "Let's get her into a room," Sinister said.
Remy nodded and followed Sinister out of the room. As he passed Jon he stopped. "If Rashelle's not found alive I'm holdin' y'responsible," he said.
Jon's eyes narrowed. He walked out of the room and down a small corridor. He began to run.
Rashelle's eyes opened. She was in so much pain. She couldn't feel her left leg and her head was pounding. She tried to sit up. It was no use. She didn't have enough strength. She put her hand to her head. It was wet. She brought her hand back down and saw it was covered in blood. She looked around. She was in between trashcans in some alley. She tried to use her voice but nothing came out. Someone help. Please she sent out with her mind. Please. Help me.
"Any luck Professor?" Jean asked as she walked into the room with a plate full of eggs and bacon.
"No," he said. "Thank you."
"Maybe if you-" Jean stopped and looked out the window. Please. Help me she heard. "Professor?"
"I heard it too," he said. X-men assemble in the war room immediately.
"Any idea who it is?" Jean asked.
"No," he said. "Whoever it is sounds like she needs are help. See if you can get in contact with her."
Jean nodded. Hello she said.
Help. Please help.
We're coming. "I have a hold on her Professor. She's in trouble and her life signs fading fast," Jean said.
Rashelle closed her eyes. Someone had heard her. She'd be okay soon. She just hoped she could hold on long enough. She heard footsteps. She opened her eyes. A woman with red hair was standing over her. It's okay. You'll be fine."Hank," the woman said.
Rashelle saw a man covered in blue fur. "I'm a doctor,"he said.
Everything went black.
Sinister walked back into his laboratory. Rogue was resting in a room with Gambit watching over her. Jon was missing as was Rashelle. And Switchback was on monitor duty. He walked through another door into a room full of computers and screens. He pushed a button and the lights came on. Thousands of tubing was laced around the ceiling with strands of DNA in them. Names were encoded into the sides of the tubes indicating who's it was. He looked up to a special set of tubing. It held the Summers DNA. He smiled. I knew that their DNA together would produce a powerful offspring. Will the result be the same on two other powerful mutants? he wondered. He punched in some codes and two different copies of DNA appeared on the largest screen. He typed in another code and the DNA structures moved together overlapping one another. The match looked almost like the one he had done with Scott Summers and Jean Greys years ago. He sat down in a chair and smiled.