CHAPTER NINE
Two days later
The hover chair carrying Xavier floated inside the war room where he had
requested a meeting to deal with their upcoming mission. As he looked
around the table at the gathering Starjammers and X-Men, he could only hope
this wouldn't be the last time he would ever see his friends and adopted
little family alive again.
The base in New York had proved to be an ordeal, costing the team
precious time they couldn't afford to lose. The base had been hidden three
miles under water, beneath the New York Upper Bay. Once inside, Scott and
his group had discovered the base was an enormous labyrinth, loaded with
traps, and hidden dangers.
Trapped and running out of oxygen, Rogue used all her super strength to
burrow a path through the labyrinth, allowing the rest of the team a chance
for survival. With the obstacles destroyed, Cyclops radioed the Starjammer
and the team escaped without further injuries.
Now sitting around the table, Bobby and Hepzibah were talking with Jean,
Beast, and Storm about Sinister's abandoned bases in Florida, Seattle, and
New York. None were aware or paid no notice of the professor's arrival.
From Bobby's description of the under water base, Xavier knew Sinister had
used the base for an obstacle to delay the groups from finding him.
Bishop stood against the wall, with his arms folded tightly against his
chest. He glanced in Xavier's direction, nodded, and then went back into
the guarded soldier mode.
As Xavier made his way to the table, he noticed the exhausted faces of
several members from both teams. He knew the past two weeks had played
heavily on the group. Frustration and anger was quickly setting in for not
finding Sinister or Remy sooner.
"I've called this meeting for two reasons." Xavier began, and the room
became quiet at hearing his voice. Everyone turned and looked in his
direction. "Warren will join us shortly. The security Ids he's having made
for the team are ready and he wants to make sure the forgeries are worth the
money he has paid for them. Since the base is located inside a government
building, we have to take extra precautions not to be seen by anyone, or we
risk being blamed for attacking the Government." He turned to Phoenix.
"Did you learn more from our guest after probing his mind again?"
"Prism couldn't give us much information about this base so that makes it
the most dangerous." Jean spoke up as she got to her feet and stood beside
Xavier. "The Professor and I, along with Cerebro have found a secret
entrance into the complex that should give us the advantage we need to
succeed in this mission. With any luck, the group should be able to sneak
into the building without having little or no contact with the
government."
"It's about time we got a break." Bobby admitted and with a concerned
look, turned to Xavier and asked, "Professor, how's Rogue? I don't think
I've ever seen her that exhausted. She had us worried when she used all her
strength to free us from that base."
"She's still sleeping, and should recover nicely." He replied. Xavier
took a deep breath, preparing himself for the argument about to come.
"Which brings me to the second reason for this meeting, I want everyone to
rest before going to Maine. We will be no match for Sinister and the
Marauders if we are exhausted before we engage them."
His announcement received the uproar he had expected, especially from
Scott and Christopher. Both father and son wasted no time in expressing
their opinion. With a heavy sigh, Xavier again stated his reasons behind
the delay. He wasn't alone in being shocked when Hepzibah agreed with him.
With her combined persuasion, the group reluctantly agreed to wait ten hours
before they mounted a rescue attempt.
______________
MAINE
Sinister's secret base
Scalphunter wanted nothing more than a hot cup of coffee and a way to amuse
himself after finishing a successful overnight mission for Sinister. He
entered the secret elevator that would take him to the lower underground
levels of the base and pondered what to do next.
With the group confined to the base until further orders and Essex locked
inside his laboratory with LeBeau the last few days, dealing with boredom
was fast becoming a Marauder pastime.
It had been going on for days now and Scalphunter jumped at an opportunity
to get out of the base. Unfortunately, he discovered any common vandal
could have accomplished his mission blindfolded. All Essex wanted was
another distraction to throw the X-Men off his trail and
any idiot could have done that much. The Marauder leader swore to himself
that he would shoot himself before he'd volunteer for another blind
mission.
The elevator door opened, depositing Scalphunter on the third level. He
started walking down a long corridor. With the third level being completely
hidden underground, the artificial lighting was the only source providing
light for the main areas of the base.
The base was a large two-story structure. It rivaled most well known
facilities in the scientific community for funds, research, and employees.
None were wiser, most of those aware of its existence believed the base to
be a working research laboratory for the United States Government.
Sinister had paid a high-ranking congressional representative a lot of money
to have the base listed as a Federal Building. The fact was comical to the
Marauder. America's taxpayers had no idea they were funding Sinister's
research.
Finding the Marauders hanging out in a large room, Scalphunter walked in to
find Baer standing against the wall. Riptide, Harpoon, and Scramble were
taking turns throwing knives around the huge Marauder's body. No doubt, the
four were engaged in another stupid wager. Leaving the men to their fun,
Scalphunter headed off to a more private area, hoping Philippa would
remember to meet him there.
"If you're looking for Arclight, she's in the lab working with the boss on
some project," Harpoon yelled after him.
His plan now ruined, Scalphunter turned and headed back to join the other
Marauders. At least, their company was better than nothing. The sound of a
small explosion caught his attention. It came from down the hall. He
quickly went to investigate.
As he stood in the hallway, he paused for a moment to watch employees with
their white coats and silly nametags running away from the direction of the
explosion. Despite the panic, none spoke aloud. It was a good thing too
because he wasn't in the mood to speak to a bunch of lackeys. The Marauder
would just as soon smack a few of the snobs around just to get a good
laugh.
Upon hearing another small explosion, he moved to the door on the left, his
mind back on business. Two people rushed by him, ignoring the disturbing
sound Scalphunter knew they had to be hearing. No doubt, the fear of
sticking their noses into Sinister's private business was enough to curb
their curiosity. Chuckling to himself, the Marauder had no such scruples.
He stood in front of the door and waited for it to open.
The door swung open without making a sound. He stepped inside to find the
room empty, with the exception of one lone figure sitting at a table playing
a game of solitaire. He recognized the young mutant and was surprised to
find Remy LeBeau above the fourth level. Since LeBeau had returned, Gambit
had spent his time staying in his quarters or in Sinister's presence.
Either by choice or due to Sinister's limitations, the young
man's freedom had been restricted. Knowing Essex, Scalphunter was
sure it was the latter.
He grabbed a chair from a nearby table wanting to have a conversation with
LeBeau but the window started glowing. The glass exploded, sending
kinetically charged shards of glass flying in his direction. He managed to
use the chair as a shield, warding off the shard missiles as they exploded
around him.
Remy jumped to his feet, his red eyes glowing brighter than Scalphunter ever
remembered. Cards appeared out of nowhere, charged and ready to use as
weapons.
"Okay, so next time, I'll knock." The Marauder said begrudgingly, watching
the younger mutant lower the charged cards and the glowing energy slowly
fading away.
Scalphunter turned the chair around and dropped it down to the floor. He
took his time lowering himself down into the chair, never taking his eyes
off LeBeau. There was something darker, dangerous, and more sinister
lurking in Gambit's demeanor and he knew there could only be one explanation
for it. "I see the Boss has been tampering with your powers again?"
LeBeau tossed his cards on the table and warily returned to his chair.
"Been a long time, Gray Crow."
"Too long, Remy. Glad to see you finally came to your senses and
realized where you really belong." Scalphunter got back to his feet. "But
a word of advice, my young friend. Be on guard, the others may not be so
happy with your homecoming."
Remy looked up, his eyes narrowing, "Mebbe I need a new name too, non?"
LeBeau turned his head towards the bar and stared at the shot glasses
sitting on the top of the tablecloth. The glasses started glowing,
expanding like blown glass until they exploded, sending another round of
charged shards flying in different directions in the room.
"You know as much as I've been killed, I don't take pleasure from the idea
of dying from an exploding shot glass. It's kinda insulting to the ego,
when it's coming from an old friend," the Marauder said with a laugh.
"Sides, I don't think the Boss would like the idea of wasting extra genetic
material unnecessary." He moved closer to the younger mutant. "Wanna tell
me what's been going on downstairs between you and the boss?"
"You mean between me an' my father?" LeBeau glanced up, and eyed the
Marauder suspiciously. "But you've known dat, haven't you."
Scalphunter wasn't going to deny anything. Why should he? He wasn't
breaking any agreement he made with Sinister. Since LeBeau already knew the
truth, he had nothing to fear from the scientist. "Let's just say, your
relationship with Sinister had a lot to do with the way the Marauders kept a
low profile against the X-Men the last few years."
He watched as Remy closed his eyes, squeezing them tightly, trying hard to
hide his feelings of hatred toward the X-Men. Apparently, Sinister was
correct. LeBeau wasn't fabricating; he really hated the X-Men. He slapped
LeBeau across the back. "I guess the grass isn't always greener on the
other side, is it?"
"Non, it's colder." LeBeau's voice was barely audible.
"Payback's a bitch, Remy." The man formerly known as Gray Crow said. He
lifted his always-present rifle and aimed it at the microwave oven, glancing
through the sight glass, then pulled the trigger. He knew nothing would
happen. He had the safety locked in place. "Nothing like revenge to get
the blood flowing again. I've got to say that I can't wait to spill some
X-Men blood."
LeBeau didn't say a word. Instead, he started playing with the deck of
cards again.
Using his past friendship with LeBeau, Sinister wanted Scalphunter to find
out if LeBeau still had any loyalty towards the X-Men. If Remy did, the
scientist wanted to know immediately. As far as Scalphunter was concerned,
Essex had nothing to worry about, but if he were wrong, Essex would make him
pay dearly for that error in judgment. Better to find out the truth now,
then to deal with Essex's wrath later. "You're kinda quiet, Remy. You're
not going to defend your friends?"
"Dey were my friends." Remy slammed the cards on the table and shot
Scalphunter a threatening glare. "Past tense, jus' like you use to be
human."
The Marauder raised an incensed brow. "No need to be insulting."
LeBeau ran a hand through his hair. "Sorry, mon ami. I didn't mean dat.
Lately, de X-Men keep bringin' out de worse in me." He smiled slightly, "I
musta been outta my head when I joined dem, huh?"
"Among other things but who am I to judge?" Scalphunter slapped his hand
across LeBeau's shoulders. "Welcome home, Bro." He said, thrilled beyond
words with LeBeau's answer. The Boss was going to be pleased, well pleased.
Sitting across the table from Remy, he tapped his fingers on the surface
and said. "Deal me in. We've got some catching up to do."
Remy gathered the cards and shuffled the deck several times.
"Hurry up, I'm getting old here." Scalphunter impatiently urged. He
studied LeBeau's demeanor, his friend was staring at him strangely. Finally
after taking all he could, the Marauder asked. "What?"
"You ever done anythin' you later regretted?"
"Nope, not a damn thing." The Marauder answered truthfully. He didn't
believe in reliving the past, what was the point? He couldn't change it,
but from the look on LeBeau's face, Remy wished differently. "I take it you
do."
"Oui, dere's a lot of things, but agreeing to Sinister's demands was de
biggest." Remy dealt a few cards and waited until Scalphunter picked up the
cards to look at them. "If I hadn't allowed him to tamper my powers den I
never would've formed de Marauders an' you-"
"Do you really believe becoming a Marauder changed me?" Scalphunter
asked, angrily waiting until LeBeau nodded. The insult was too much to
bear. The Marauder leader brutally slammed his hand down hard on the table,
trapping Remy's underneath his. He ignored LeBeau's painful gasp. "John
Gray Crow chooses his own path, not one set by another. Don't insult my
intelligence by claiming you led me to Sinister. It was I who introduced
you to him, not the other way around."
"You weren't a killer back then, Gray Crow." Remy countered. "In
Arizona, we---"
"We nothing!" The Marauder released his hold on the other man's hand
with a violent shove. "I told you only what I wanted you to know. I'm
called Scalphunter for a reason, not because of a stupid nickname. I don't
remember you calling me a killer when what I snapped that trucker's neck
years ago in Arizona."
"Dat was different." Remy debated, refusing to listen to the Marauder.
"You killed him because I refused to use my powers to defend myself."
"And I introduced you to the one man who allowed you to live your life
again," Scalphunter challenged with a sigh. "Decades ago, long before you
were born, the Boss made me an offer I couldn't refuse. Bionics and
immortality! Who could turn down those options? Certainly not me."
Remy looked up, curiosity laced his features. "So you have no regrets?"
"Hell no! What's there to regret? Sinister pays well and I enjoy my
work." The Marauder studied the cards, and waited for another one. "If I
happen to get killed, so what! Sinister clones me another body, and presto,
it's back to business. There's a big advantage to being a Marauder, Remy.
You never grow old. Look at Philippa, if she hadn't been cloned, she'd be
pushing--"
"Better not tell say it, mon ami." Remy snorted a laugh. "Dat femme might
be listenin', no? And we bot' know what happens when she gets mad."
The door opened, revealing the object of their conversation. Arclight
walked inside, her arms folded tightly against her chest. "The Boss wants a
meeting in ten minutes. From the sound of his voice, something's about to
happen."
She turned to LeBeau, her eyes narrowing. In a non-flattering voice, she
replied. "Eating crow, LeBeau? Come back to the fold with your tail tucked
between your legs?"
"You always did have a charmin' way wit' words, Philippa." Remy headed for
the door. He stopped, and in his sexiest voice, he added, "Wonder if you
kiss an' tell."
"No." She leaned her head closer to Gambit and hissed in his ear. "I
bite."
"Might be fun, no?"
"Don't make promises you can't keep, LeBeau." Arclight grinned
enticingly at Scalphunter. "My taste run towards men, not boys."
Gambit headed out the door, leaving the two Marauders staring at each
other. "You two love birds have fun."
The door sealed shut and Arclight glanced back at the door. "Well?"
"Tell the boss he has nothing to worry about," Scalphunter replied.
"Remy does not intend to go back to the X-Men."
"You better be right, Scalp." She warned. "If LeBeau turns, he's mine
and you'll have to answer to the boss for your failure." When Scalphunter
glared at her, she placed her hand on his chest and lowered her voice into a
sultry, alluring tone. "I'm not doubting you, darling, but are you sure
you're not letting personal feelings get in the way? You and LeBeau were
once very close. He might be making a fool out of you."
"Then I'll correct that mistake." Scalphunter shoved Arclight's hand
away and left the room. "Until that happens, Remy's considered a member of
the group."
"Whatever you say, lover. You're the leader." Arclight laughed, adding
with delight. "For now."