Savannah, Georgia
The Emerald is one of the finest restaurants in Georgia. In order to get a table one must be in the highest social circles of Georgia. Even then one could wait two to three months before being notified that they have a reservation.
It is located inside an old mansion on the beach. Laughter fills the air as does a soft jazz played by the orchestra. Couples dance to the slow music in the middle of the restaurant. The whole setting is like parties that used to be thrown in the mansion years ago before the Civil War.
"Right this way Madame," the waiter says leading an exceptionally beautiful woman towards a table.
The soft jazz suddenly dies and the couples stop dancing. Talking ceases throughout the restaurant as all eyes follow her. The maiter'd gives a quick look to the conductor to continue playing. As the soft jazz cuts through the air talking and dancing resume.
The young woman suppresses her laughter as she sits down. She gazes around the room and notices a few stares in her direction. She smiles and looks away. She hasn't had this effect on people in ages. Have to use this form more often Vivien, she tells herself.
"Such an amusing place my dear," she hears a voice say from behind her.
Vivien turns around and her blue eyes grow wide in delight as she sees who it is. "Nathan. How are you?"
"Not very well," the man admits. "Come."
She follows the man out to the balcony and rests against the railing. "Nathan, what's wrong?"
"We need to talk. In private." He noticed a few stares in their direction and frowned. Slowly the man transformed into Sinister and teleported the two away. They reappeared in the living room of an old Victorian mansion.
"Was that truly necessary?" Vivien asked angrily. "I worked hard to be accepted into that inner circle and you just ruined it all. Whatever you needed to tell me could have been said there. I don't care what you have to say anymore. Get the hell out of my house!"
Sinister grabbed Vivien's arm. "I would kill you right now if I did not need your 'services'. Now shut up and listen." Vivien nodded and sunk back into the couch. "I need you to kill Haley."
Her eyebrows raised slightly. "I thought you wanted her alive."
"She's of no use to me anymore. I've sent her to look for you. She should be here soon. Dispose of her as you wish."
"It's such a pity, I liked her." When she saw the look on Sinister's face she hastily added," Don't worry I'll do as you wish."
"Good. Will you be in Savannah long?"
"After what you did--no."
Sinister threw a small black object at her. "Keep this with you. I'll need you later on."
As she watched him disappear her eyes narrowed in disgust.
Astral Plane
Sarah blinked back onto the astral plane. Not Haley too. Almost all her teammates were dead. She couldn't let Sinister kill her. Sarah turned and began searching for someone she knew could help.
X-Men's Underground Hangers
Scott Summers, aka Cyclops, stood by Professor Xavier waiting for Forge to exit the plane. The doors opened and all Cyclops saw was a flash of red, white, and blue. Then he saw a blue hand yank Xavier from his wheelchair.
"MYSTIQUE!" Forge yelled from the doorway of the plane.
"Leave her alone!" Mystique told Xavier as she lowered him back to the wheelchair.
"What are you talking abo--"
"Rogue," Mystique spat. "I read two interesting things in her letter to Lorna. One I cannot blame you for. The second, however, I can. Stop the therapy sessions now!"
"Those sessions are help--"
"You have no idea what you are doing Xavier. That child lived through hell when she was a child. She's seen things that people would kill her for. I've been able to keep her safe because she hasn't remembered. If she does, she's as good as dead. Talk to her about her family but that's it. Don't go any deeper. If you do I will kill you. I will not loose my daughter."
"Mystique!" Forge yelled.
Mystique stepped back from Xavier. "Where's Gambit?"
"Garage," Cyclops said.
The three men watched her leave. "I am so glad I'm not Gambit," Cyclops muttered.
Forge turned to Xavier. "I'm sorry Charles. She insisted on coming to see Rogue."
"Don't worry Forge. I may need to talk to her later about what she just said. For now, why don't we talk about the security breaches."
Sinister's Laboratory
"Aaaaah!" Timothy screamed. "Stop! Please stop!"
Sinister smiled and typed in a few more codes. The eight-year-old screamed louder. Sinister walked away from him and towards Thomas. He took a needle from the table and took a hold of Thomas' arm. "Nathan stop this!" he heard from behind him.
Sinister turned towards the cylinder with the woman in it. "He's just a child," she said. "How can you do this? What happened to you? Where's the man I fell in love with?"
The woman cringed from the look of anger and hatred on his face. Sinister dropped the needle, opened the cylinder and grabbed the woman's throat. "That man died when you took our son from me," he said angrily.
Her blue eyes narrowed. "He was in agony. He cried in my arms every night because of what you did to him."
Sinister threw her against the wall. "I was making him better."
"You were hurting him Nathan. You couldn't hear his screams. You were his father. You were suppose to protect him!"
Sinister kicked her hard in the stomach. She doubled over in agony and felt his hands wrap around her neck. Her eyes closed believing this was the end. She hears him laugh and opened her eyes. She was back in the cylinder. "I won't kill you yet Tara," Sinister closed the cylinder. "I'll let you see our first grandchild before you die."
"Wha--Remy's alive?"
Sinister smiled and left the laboratory. "Nathan wait. Is he alive? Is our son alive? Nathan! NATHAN!"
"Now how is this?" Ororo Monroe held up a small yellow blanket.
"It's adorable," Jean said taking the blanket from her. "And soft. It'd be perfect for a baby. What do you think Rogue? Rogue?"
"Hmm . . . sorry Jean. What were ya sayin'?"
"Is everything all right?" Jean put the blanket back on the display.
"Everythin's fine. Ah'm gonna go look at the cribs."
Jean and Ororo watched her walk off. "Do you know what's wrong?" Jean asked turning to Ororo.
Ororo picked up a small toy elephant. "It could be a number of things. What with the memories being resurfaced during her sessions with the Professor or the fact that most of the team distrusts Remy . . . Scott hasn't been very helpful." Storm sighed and put the toy back down. "Neither has Bobby. The two used to be such good friends but lately . . ."
Rogue looked down at the small white crib and put her hands to her stomach. It had been two weeks since she'd found out she was pregnant. She smiled. Then her eye caught the Teddy Bear in the corner of the crib. She picked it up. Remy . . . She put it back down and sighed. She'd been waiting to go shopping with Jean and Ororo for a week. It was suppose to have been fun. Unfortunately she couldn't wait to get home. Something was wrong. She could feel it.
Rogue turned around to find Ororo and Jean but she realized she wasn't in the store anymore. "Wha--Where in the world am Ah?" she said aloud.
"Astral plane."
Rogue turned around ready to attack when she saw whom it was. "Sarah!?!" Rogue ran and hugged the eight-year-old. "Your okay."
"I'm fine." Sarah hugged her back. "Haley's not though. Sinister sent Vivien to kill her. You have to stop her. Get Remy to stop her."
"The X-Men'll stop her sugah. I just need to know where to go."
"Savannah."
"Georgia?"
"Mhm," Sarah hugged Rogue tighter. "You're okay. I thought Sinister was gonna hurt you . . ." Sarah looked up over Rogue's shoulder. Her brown eyes grew wide with fright. "No!"
Rogue turned around and saw Sinister and a boy. Oh mah god . . . Sinister smiled. "Thomas begin," he said.
The boy motioned for Sarah to come to him. Sarah's grip on Rogue began to loosen and she felt herself fly backwards towards the boy. "Nooooo! Sarah!" Rogue screamed. She tried to reach for her but couldn't move.
Sinister grabbed Sarah. The boy created a psionic cage around her. "Now you won't be able to spoil anymore of my plans," Sinister said then turned towards Rogue.
Rogue tried to move again. She couldn't. Sinister's hands touched her stomach and he smiled. "The baby's growing fine." Then Sarah, the boy and Sinister disappeared.
Rogue dropped to her knees. Sarah . . .
Garage at X-mansion
Gambit picked up the screwdriver and turned back to his Harley Davidson. "When I first heard dat de Prof agreed t'lettin' me stay I t'ought it was a good idea," he said looking at Wolverine. ""Now I'm not so sure. T'anks." He took another tool from Wolverine and handed him the screwdriver.
"Why not gumbo."
"Dey not trust me. Bobby ignores me, so do Betsy and Warren. Bishop's even worse den before-- I'm surprised he didn't follow me in here-- and Scott-- I don't even want t'talk 'bout Scott. Screwdriver . . . T'anks."
"I t'ink dat maybe it be best if I just leave but den I t'ink 'bout Rogue and de baby. Sinister's gonna come after her again. I just know it."
"Oh believe me Cajun, Sinister's the last thing you need to worry about."
"Hehn?" Gambit turned around and saw Mystique in the doorway of the garage. "Uh-oh."
"I'll be goin' now," Wolverine said.
"T'anks a lot mon ami."
Mystique watched Wolverine leave and then turned back to Gambit. If looks could kill . . . Gambit thought as he saw her face.
"Pregnant. You got my daughter pregnant."
"Now let me explain--"
Mystique lashed out at him. Remy blocked her attack. "I didn't touch her--oof!" Gambit landed against his bike. He reached around and grabbed some tools, which he quickly charged and threw at her.
Mystique laughed as she rolled out of the way. Merde! Scott's gonna kill me! The charged tools had hit Scott's Toyota ripping away the doors and most of the roof.
While he was distracted by the truck Mystique grabbed him by his collar and kneed him in the stomach. Remy moaned and kicked Mystique away.
"Ahem!"
The two turned to see bobby Drake standing in the garage doorway. "Believe me I'm the last person here who'd care if you killed the Cajun but something is wrong with Rogue."
Infirmary
Rogue's eyes slowly opened. How'd ah get ta the infirmary? She sat up slowly and moaned as her head began to pound. She looked up and saw Beast talking to the Professor, Remy, Storm, Jean and . . .
"--momma--?"
The group turned around at the sound of her voice. Gambit and Mystique were at her side immediately. "What happened? Why am Ah in the infirmary?"
"Y'blacked out on Jean and 'Ro. Like at Sinister's base," Remy said trying get her to lay her back down. "Y'need y'rest chere."
"Sinister's gonna kill Haley, Remy. Ya gotta stop him." Rogue felt a prick in her right arm and began to feel drowsy. "She's in Savannah, Georgia. Remy . . ."
"Hush p'tite. Every't'ing gonna be okay."
Rogue's eyes closed and Gambit looked at Xavier.
All X-Men report to the War Room.
"T'ank you." Gambit turned back to Rogue and kissed her glove hand lightly. "I be back soon ma amour." He looked up at Mystique. "Don't go upsettin' her."
"I wouldn't dream of it Cajun," Mystique lied.
Gambit looked back at Rogue one last time and followed Xavier and Beast out of the infirmary. Mystique looked down at Rogue. Pregnant . . . I thought I taught you better. She sighed and brushed Rogue's hair from her face. Why didn't Irene warn me!?!
Have you ever noticed how Mystique's colors are red(hair), white(outfit), and blue(skin) and that those are the colors of the American Flag? Just a thought.