Reflections

[Gambit]

Leaving his torn and bloodied uniform on the floor, Remy stepped under the scorching water that rushed from the showerhead. Placing both his hands on the wall in front of him, he hung his head, his wet hair falling in his eyes. He watched the once pure water quickly become tainted with his blood, as a pink tinged whirlpool appeared around the drain. He silently wished the water could wash everything away. Wash away his memories, or maybe the events of this awful night.

At least he died a hero. Dat’ll never be you. Jus’ give up now. You’ll only end up dyin’ alone, jus’ de way you like it. A cowards death fo’ you…

Slicking his hair back out of his eyes, Remy cut the water, and stepped out of the shower. Wrapping a towel around his waist, he stepped over to the sink, keeping his eyes averted from the mirror. Searching the cabinets, he found a bottle of peroxide. Removing the cover, he held his right hand over the sink, before pouring some of the stinging liquid over his raw knuckles. The liquid bubbled, turning white instantly. He then repeated this action with the bite marks on his left arm. Each time he hissed in pain, clenching his jaw tight.

Finally he came to the deep gash on his left side. It had already begun to bleed again, the red substance running down his side, and staining the white towel. It was deep enough that it probably needed stitches, but the MedLab was the last place Remy wanted to be.

I’ll have ta stitch it up m’self, or maybe I jus’ let it bleed…

Leaning sideways slightly, he poured some of the disinfectant on the cut, the pain excruciating. Using the corner of the towel to wipe it clean, he set the bottle down. In doing so, he caught a glimpse of his reflection in the slightly steamy mirror. Gripping the edge of the sink with both hands, he stared at the red on black eyes that stared back.

Eyes of a demon. Le Diable Blanc. How fittin’ dat name be, eh homme? You better hope dat dat femme o’ yours stay where she be, dat she never comes back ta learn what happened.

Removing on hand from the sink, Remy placed it on the glass of the mirror, covering the reflection. Slowly, the mirror began to glow purple. Pulling back his hand, Remy turned his back, his face an emotionless mask, as the glass exploded behind him. Several shards hit him, but he didn’t seem to notice as he left the room, stepping out into the hallway.

[Ion]

A sudden explosion from the door beside him startled Matt on his way downstairs. The door flew open, narrowly missing him and Remy stepped out. The older mutant, scarcely dressed, pushed past him. "You o-?" he started but was cut off when a snarl or grunt of some kind came to his ears. He stared on as Gambit continued on his way, wordless, finally noticing the gash in his side.

Stepping through the door to the bathroom, Matt didn't find a pleasant sight. Both the sink and shower floor were pink from recent blood, and most of the mirror had been blown away, leaving shards under his feet. Many had blood stains on the sharp tips.

Taking two steps backward out of the room, he turned just in time to see Remy turn a corner. "Should prob'ly clean this up..." he said, worried more about what had caused it. "Damn it..." he continued to himself, and set to work, finding several rags beneath the sink.

[Callisto]

Hearing the blackbird land, but more concerned about the Morlocks, who were still settling in, Callisto didn't pay much attention to it, even the crowd gathering. However, her attidue changed when Torpid, who was making some friends, came and gave her the news. Reading the note she was given, Callisto began to shake slightly.

"No...," she whispered, "It's...not possible. Not him". Shaking, she stood up from cleaning the room and angrily left the Morlocks to whisper and wonder. Stepping out into the hall, she took no time in stomping down the hall, trying to find someone who could tell her what had happened.

Seeing Gambit, and knowing he had left with Logan, Callisto didn't care what he thought right now. She had to know. "Gambit. Stop, and you will answer me. I don't know how you feel, but then again, you don't know how I feel". Pausing, she wasn't sure if she was getting her message across. Speaking in a commanding but softer tone, she pleaded. "I want you to tell me what happened. Everything".

[Magneto]

After talking with Mystique, Magneto set out to find Gambit and find out exactly what had happened. He stepped out into the hallway and an explosion sounded to his left. He turned that way and headed down the hall, turning the corner and seeing the bloodied and defeated looking form of Gambit still trudging down the hall. Callisto had appeared next to him and seemed to be trying to talk to him.

In several long strides Magneto caught up with him and put a hand on his shoulder, spinning the mutant around. His eyes were glowing red and he looked on the verge of losing it.

"Gambit?" He removed his hand and looked at Callisto dismissively. Then back to Gambit he said, "We need to talk alone. Now."

[Gambit]

Stepping out of the bathroom, Gambit barely acknowledged Matt’s presence, as he continued down the hallway, and around the corner. As Callisto approached him, he sighed, knowing that time alone was pretty much impossible to get in this building, especially after what happened.

Looking at her with a blank expression, he tried to make sense of what she was saying. But when she finally got to her point, and flat out asked him what happened, although in a much nicer way than Taela had, Remy clenched his jaw, his eyes glowing.

You might as well get use ta it, homme. Dey all gonna be askin’ what happened. Dey ain’t gonna jus’ accept dat he be dead, wit’out knowin’ how.

But before he could search for the words, either to tell her or tell her off, he felt a strong hand on his shoulder, spinning him around. Seeing the face of Magneto, he didn’t flinch. Wordlessly, he pushed past him and continued to his room.

“If you wanna talk, you’ll have ta follow. Havin’ it out in de hallway, while I be half naked an’ bleedin’ ain’t really my idea o’ a good time,” he threw over his shoulder.

[Magneto]

Magneto let the insubordinance slide, as he always seemed to do with Gambit. There was no time to demand protocol be met, there was no time to put Cajun into his place. The only thing he had time for was getting the information he needed.

Without even another glance at Callisto, Magneto went after Gambit. He had to hear his version of it, and needed to find out everything about these Sentinels that he could. They went down the hall to Gambit's room and Magneto waited in the hall, resting his back against the wall while Remy changed clothes.

"I need to know exactly what happened." He said over his shoulder. "I can see you took some damage-I need to know EVERYTHING there is to know. I'm afraid we might be seeing much more of these metal menaces very soon."

[Gambit]

Quickly throwing on a pair of loose jogging pants, Remy tied the towel around his wound, before covering it with a T-shirt. Opening the door, he left it open for Magneto to enter, as he turned his back on him.

“Well, I guess you kinda figured out dat dese ain’t de same as de ones we fought before,” he started, as he fished the bag of disks from his coat. Lying on his bed, he absentmindedly played with the strings of the drawstring bag.

[Magneto]

Magneto came in and closed the door behind him, standing with his back against the wood of the door he crossed his arms and studied Gambit. "I knew that before you ever took off. THere was a lot of information that you flew off without ever finding out. Logan..." He began and then cut himself off.

He took a deep breath and let it out slowly. "This did not have to happen." Gambit hardly seemed to notice him, but seemed lost in thought. The only indication that he knew Magneto was even there was a flick of his eyes toward the mutant standing over him.

"But while we are on the subject, tell me everything about the armor and weaponry of these Sentinels that you witnessed."

[Gambit]

Gambit looked up with Magneto with narrowed eyes.

None o’ dis had ta happen. He’s been right all along, you know. De humans won’ stop til dey destroy us…

“Well, you’ll be happy ta know dese ones be metal,” he replied, plastering a fake smirk on his face. “As fo’ weapons, you name it, dey got it. Cannons dat shoot some sorta sticky stuff, lasers… Oh, an’ my favorite. Some long metal spear t’ings.”<br>
Maybe I should jus’ hold a big meetin’, an’ tell everyone all at once. Twenty questions gets old when de answer be de same every time.

[Magneto]

Taking it all in, Magneto nodded. His white eyebrows were pressed together in a point above the bridge of his nose as he thought hard about what Gambit was telling him.

Metal? Something does not sound quite right with that. They know of me and my powers...why would they make it so easy for me?

"And your account of what happened with the Wolverine."

[Gambit]

With those words, Gambit’s eyes shot up to Magneto’s face, before he lowered them to the bag in his hands again.

“You’d be better off askin’ Guido or Pyro ‘bout dat one,” he said quietly, his eyes glowing harshly. “I only caught de swan song.”<br>
All because o’ dese stupid disks. Dey better be de Fort Knox o’ info’mation.

Looking back up at Magneto, he knew that he had a lot of explaining to do, as to why he wasn’t there.

“All I can tell you is dat dey killed him, an’ took de body,” he said, realizing that he was starting to sound like a broken record.

[Magneto]

"Took his body?" Magneto said thoughtfully. What on Earth would they want with a dead body? Something about this did not add up either, but he did not have time to contemplate.

He let the question hang in the air for a minute, and then before he turned to leave asked, "Is there anything else of significance you would like to share with me, Gambit?"

[Gambit]

Well dat was easier den I t’ought…

At Magneto’s last question, Gambit tossed the older man the bag of disks.

“Dere was a main command centre or computer room on de base. I managed ta get dose before de Sentinal decided ta play can opener wit de buildin’. I don’ know what be on dem, but at least de one dat’s marked on gotta be somet’in’ important,” he said, examining the deep marks left in his arm from Taela’s teeth.

[Magneto]

Erik caught the bag of disks and peered inside with a questioning look. "I will have Toad look into this immediately. Hopefully it has more useful information than what he brought me last time." Thinking of the disk with Condor on it Magneto shook his head. "Let's hope whatever's on here was worth it, Gambit."

As an afterthought he said, "And you still have to answer for where you were during Logan's demise." His smile held no humor. "Take some time to rest and gather your thoughts. We are far from finished here."

[Gambit]

Gambit stood quickly, irritation apparent on his face. Wincing only slightly, he met Magneto’s cold look with one of his own.

“Eit’er we’re finished or we’re not. If you got somet’in’ ta say, say it now an’ get it over wit’. If not, den jus’ get de hell out!” he replied, his eyes flashing dangerously.

I don’ care if he yells at me like Stormy, or attacks me like de dragon fille, but I ain’t takin’ none o’ dis “I’ll come back later” merde…