Home | Forum | Mailing List | Repository | Links | Gallery
 
 
Chapters
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
 
 
 

Unfinished Business - REVIEW THIS STORY

Written by X-Treme and Loup Garou
Last updated: 01/02/2007 02:01:11 AM

Chapter 4

by Loup Garou & X-Treme

Warren sat in a cage, not unlike a prison cell. He wore shackles on his wrists and ankles, and clamps on his wings.

He heard footsteps coming toward the room in which he sat. Then the door opened, and Remy LeBeau walked in. "Time to face de music, mon ami," he said quietly. I t'ink, maybe I can get you out of dis."

Warren seethed with rage. "Don't do me any favors, Gumbo," he growled.

Gambit opened Warren's cell door and led him to another room. Once inside, Warren was led to a raised platform. There he stood, waiting for his judgement.

Before him, in a high-backed chair, sat a handsome man of middle age. Warren took him to be The King of Thieves, Jean Luc LeBeau.

Jean Luck looked at him intently. "You are guilty of sabotaging many of our operations, and killing over 300 of our men. Punishment is death. Do you have anything to say?"

"No," Warren said, coldly.

Gambit looked up at him in surprise.

"Very well," Jean Luc said. "Your sentence will be carried out, immediately."

"Non," Gambit blurted. Now it was Warren's turn to look surprised.

"You have somet'ing to say, Remy LeBeau?" His father asked.

"Oui," Gambit replied. "We started dis. I started it. I betrayed a friend. He was just retaliatin'. If you have t'kill someone, den let it be me."

"This is your big plan to get me out?" Warren whispered, shocked.

"Oui," Gambit said, emotionlessly.

"Dis is a dangerous game you play, son." Jean Luc said, with a tinge of admiration in his voice. "But he already know too much about de Guild. Could dis have anyt'ing to do wit' de fact dat he's a fellow X-Man? Just where do your loyalties lie? You must choose. De Guild or de X-Men?"

"You are bot' my family. Asking me to choose is like asking me to choose between my mot'er and my fat'er." Gambit tried something else. "Listen, why don' we make a deal?"

Jean Luc pondered for a moment. "Dis better be good."

"I don't deal with thieves." Warren said.

"You'd rat'er leave Betsy all alone, and heart-broken, dan to listen to what I have to say?"

Warren thought about it. He loved Betsy with all his heart. The thought of causing her pain was more than he could stand. "I'm listening," he said, finally.

"In return for Warren's silence, we help him find de people who hired us to steal his chip."

Jean Luc arched an eyebrow. "I might be willing, but how do I know dis man will keep his word?"

"He's an honorable man," Remy replied. "I can vouch for dat. If he gives his word, he'll keep it."

"I'm holding you responsible, Remy. If he goes back on his word, den I will take you up on your previous offer." Then Jean Luc turned to Warren. "Well?"

Warren thought about it for a moment. "I agree to the terms of this deal," he said finally.

"Den it is done." Jean Luc said. Then to Remy he added. "You will help him, since it was your hit, and your idea.

"You are excused, Warren Wort'ington. I wish to speak to you alone, Remy."

When Warren was gone, Jean Luc turned to Remy, and said, "I want you to find out who is supplying him wit' his information. And eliminate him."

Remy nodded his head, and left the New York safe house. As he was walking out the front door, he bumped into a woman. She slipped him a small package.

Gambit smiled. Wouldn't Rogue be surprised!

Back at the mansion, Remy found Warren with Betsy, and pulled him aside.

"Tonight we find de man who hired me," he told Warren.

"Why don't we just go now?" Warren asked.

"Patience," Remy replied. "It'll be safer at night, b'sides I have something planned for Rogue today." He felt in his pocket, and brought out an envelope, with a small bulge in it. "Here give dis to her, when she finds you."

Rogue just stepped out of the shower. She was drying her hair, when she noticed a note under her door. Written on the envelope was the statement: "Find the next note."

She opened the envelope, and pulled out the note. It read: Love can drop you from the highest point of your world, (continued)"

She took the underlined words to be the clue as to the whereabouts of the next note.

So, what's the highest point of mah world? She wondered. What's mah world?

That would be here, with the X-Men in the mansion. The Mansion! That's it! She flew to the roof. Taped to the chimney was the next note.

She put the two together. They read: Love can drop you from the highest point of your world, and into the pits of Hell. But it can also give you the strength to rise up from the ashes like a Phoenix."

Well, this one's pretty easy. She went down to the boathouse.

When she knocked on the door, Jean Gray (a.k.a. Phoenix) answered the door. Smiling brightly, she handed her the next envelope. "What's the Cajun up to this time?" She asked.

"Damned if Ah know." Rogue replied. She opened the envelope, and pulled out the note. It read: "Force is anything that causes motion, or action. Love is a force. (Continued)

Hmm, Another toughie. She thought about it for a moment. Then it came to her. What's the force that drives the X-Men? The dream of peaceful co-existence between mutants and humans is what drives the X-men. It's

the Professor's dream.

She'd check with Xavier.

Rogue found Charles Xavier in his study. The door was open so she went in.

The Professor looked up to see her enter. "Ah, hello, Rogue. I was told to expect you."

"Then you have the note?" She asked.

"Oh, yes. Let me find it for you." He searched in his desk for a moment. "Here we go." Xavier smiled, as he handed her the envelope.

"Thank you."

"You're welcome, Rogue. Far be it for me to stand in the way of romance." Xavier smiled again.

Rogue blushed as she turned and left the office.

When Rogue put the two notes together, they read: "Force is anything that causes motion, or action. Love is a force. If you look into the heart of a true warrior, you'll find a lover."

Well, all the X-Men are warriors. But if one were to be singled out, there's only one person that could be.

Rogue went up stairs, and stood outside Logan's door for a moment, then she raised her fist to knock. At that moment the door opened. Logan stood before her.

"I thought I smelled ya out here, darlin'," he said gruffly. That wasn't an insult. Logan had hyper senses he could smell hear or see things that normal people couldn't.

"Yeah, well...Uh...Do you...Uh...Do you have a note for me?'

"Sure do, Darlin'." Logan handed her the envelope. "What's goin' on?"

"Well, Ah'm not exactly sure, sugah." Rogue replied. As she started to walk away. "Thanks," she added.

"Any time, kiddo"

Rogue opened the envelope, and read the note inside. "Love can lift you high on the wings of an angel, (continued)"

This was certainly easy. But what was Warren doing helping Remy. They weren't exactly on speaking terms.

Oh, well. She looked for Warren at his room, but there was no answer at the door. She found him and Betsy, working out, in the weight room. Warren was doing bench presses, and Betsy was spotting him. When Rogue

entered he set the weights in their place, and sat up.

"I've been expecting you. Rogue. I have something for you." He got up of the bench, and walked toward his bag, pulled out the envelope and handed it to her.

By this time, Betsy had joined them.

There was something different about this envelope. There was a small bulge in it. Rogue opened it up, and found the note and a smaller envelope inside. She put the notes together and read them out loud.

"Love can lift you high on the wings of an angel, and carry you off into forevah."

Nothing was underlined on this new note, so she opened the other envelope and nearly fainted. Inside was a small diamond, and attached to the diamond was a gold ring. Betsy gasped as Rogue pulled it out, and stared at it in disbelief as tears started to roll down her face.

She was brought back to reality by Warren's gentle voice.

"Don't you think you should read the other note?" he asked.

"Huh? Wha-? Oh, yes, of course." She brought out the second not, and read it. "Please trust me, chere. Meet me in my room if the answer is yes."

Was this some kind of sick joke? It wasn't like Remy to be cruel. She wasn't sure what to think. Remy knew that Rogue's power to absorb other peoples' thoughts, powers, and abilities prevented her from touching others.

There was something else bothering her too. Rogue wiped the tears away, and looked at Warren. "Why are you doin' this? Don't tell me, you and Remy made up." She looked skeptical.

Warren thought for a moment, before answering. "Gambit and I will never be buddies," he said. "But we've come to an agreement. For now."

That last sounded just a little too menacing for her comfort. She'd have to talk to Remy about it, soon.

Remy LeBeau waited in his room, pacing nervously. His heart threatened to burst from his chest. What if she don' show up? What if she don' trust me? He kept asking himself over and over again.

Relax, Remy, he told himself. You'll give y'self a heartattack. It's up to Rogue now.

Suddenly a knock came at his door. Remy's usually graceful form stumbled over his bed, and nearly fell on his face, in his rush to get to the door.

As he opens the door he sees her standing there. The flickering candlelight accenting her figure, dancing across her trim form, making her more beautiful than ever.

"Chere," Remy whispered. "You make Gambit de happiest man...in...de..." His sentence trailed off, as he noticed she wasn't wearing the ring. "Chere?" He pleaded.

"Remy..." she began, interrupted by here sobs. "How could you ask me to do this? You know we can nevah touch. You know what would happen, if Ah...if we..." She couldn't finish and she buried her face in her

hands.

Remy put a gentle hand on her shoulder, and led her inside. He closed the door, and stood at Rogue's back. He slid his arms around her torso, and held her until her sobs abated.

When she had finished crying, Rogue laid her head back on his shoulder.

Then Remy whispered softly in her ear. "Chere, I would never hurt you," he said. "Dis not a joke. I want you t'marry me."

"Ah...Ah want to, Remy. But how can we...?"

"Shh..." He interrupted, gently. "Don' worry about dat now. Trust Gambit. Do you? Please, say you trust him."

His voice was so full of love, hope, and something that she never thought would come from this Cajun charmer, desparation, that she knew he'd never hurt her. She wanted, so much, to trust him. Finally she said, "Ah...Ah trust ya, Remy."

He turned her around to face him. "Den put on de ring, chere," he said. She looked into his red eyes. They seem to burn with love, she thought.

Rogue took off her left glove, then looked at the ring for a moment. Then she slid the ring on her finger.

Suddenly, Gambit stepped into her and pressed his lips fiercely against hers. Her first reaction was to push him away. But when a moment passed, and no memories flooded into her mind, she began to relax.

The Kiss that had been so fierce a moment ago turned infinitely soft. Remy's tongue parted her lips, and danced around with hers.

After a long time, locked in the embrace, and breathing hard, they reluctantly broke the contact.

Once Rogue came back to her senses, she found enough of her voice to ask, " Remy...How...?"

Remy brought her left hand up to his face, and kissed it softly for a moment, then he said, "De symbol of our love, is also what makes it possible."

Rogue pulled her hand back to look at the ring. "But it's so small. How can it do all that?" She asked.

Remy smiled. "De latest in Micro-technology, Chere. It even got a teeny little generator inside, so you never have to recharge it. Lifetime guarantee, or y'money back."

Rogue looked at it again. "How do ya turn it off?" She asked.

"Just turn de diamond until it clicks." Remy Replied.

"Remy," She said, hesitantly. "Ever since that night in Antarctica, Ah've been dreamin' o' the time we spent togethah." She hesitated again. "Would you make love to me again?"

Remy smiled, warmly at her. "Y'gotta ask, Chere?" he replied.

Gambit took her other glove off, and led her by both hands to the bed.

Several hours later, Warren was waiting for Gambit in the mansion's foyer.

When Remy LeBeau finally arrived, he was all smiles and cheer. The only indication that they were going out on business, was the black and red battle uniform he wore under his trench coat.

"I take it Rogue said yes?" Warren asked sarcastically.

"Oui, mon ami," Gambit agreed cheerfully. "We spent de day celebratin'."

Warren arched an eyebrow, but didn't inquire further. "So where will we find the man who hired you?" He asked instead.

At de offices of Heartland Computer Company.

Warren thought about that for a moment. Of course, he'd heard of Heartland. It was a company that just started last month. It was already gaining great momentum. None knew, for sure, who started the company. None except a select few in the higher ranks.

There was something wrong here. Heartland had to know that the chip would already be patented. None could reproduce the design except for Worthington Industries, and Sebastian Shaw. So why steal the chip? Destroy it before it reaches the market? No, they could have had Gambit do that instead of stealing it. Something just didn't add up.

Gambit rode his Harley, while Archangel followed from the air.

When they arrived at the building, Warren thought it was nothing special. 7 stories tall. Hardly a stepping stool compared to Worthington Ind.

Warren saw a phone booth, across the street. He considered calling Carl, but decided against it. He didn't want the scientist to have any contact with the Thieves Guild.

"You don't honestly expect him to be here at this time of night, do you?" Warren asked skeptically.

"Oui, de man told me dat he likes to work late. 'Sides, if he's not, den I'm sure his home address will be on record."

"Good point," Warren agreed. "So, what are we waiting for?"

Archangel flew up to the roof, as Gambit climbed the fire escape on the side of the building.

They entered through the roof door, and went down one flight of stairs.

Gambit opened the door to the top floor. The guard lights were on, but the video cameras unplugged.

That's odd, Warren thought. They reached the main office. The door was locked and warm under Gambit's glove. Suddenly, they caught a whiff of smoke.

"I don' like dis. We better hurry," Gambit said.

Warren agreed.

Gambit stepped back to kick the door in, and Warren saw a puff of smoke escape through the bottom of the door, only to be sucked back in. "No! Wait...!" Warren yelled, but it was too late.

Gambit kicked the door in, and was greeted by a burst of flame. A back draft had built up.

Warren tackled Gambit just before the flame could engulf him.

Gambit looked up at Archangel. "I didn' know you cared," he said shakily, then smiled.

Warren quickly got up, followed by Gambit. The entire room was burning.

"We better check the records room." Warren said...they went down another flight of stairs. The Records Room was burning also. In fact, all the lower levels were burning. There would be no way down that way. The heard a crash coming from outside. They hurried up the stairs onto the roof to see what had happened.

The fire escape had fallen, or had been ripped off. This was looking more and more, like a prearranged hit.

That didn't make sense either. Whoever set this up, *must* have seen them enter, and would know that Archangel could fly.

Did someone want Gambit dead? He could certainly understand why someone would feel animosity toward the Cajun.

Warren also wanted him dead. Or did he anymore? Gambit had offered his life to the Thieves Guild in trade for his own. Why would he do that after Warren had tried to kill him in the danger room, unless Warren had seriously misjudged him?

Gambit had moved around to the front of the building, and was calling out to Warren.

Warren rushed over.

"I saw a man run out of de building. He went dat way." Gambit pointed up the street. "Go get him"

"What about you?" Warren asked, Nervously.

"Gambit can take care of himself. Now go, before he gets away."

Warren jumped off the roof, and flew in the direction Gambit had indicated.

Catching up to the arsonist had been easier than Warren had expected.

He was laying, face down, in a puddle of blood. Warren flipped him over, and nearly vomited as he saw that most of the dead man's chest was gone.

First rule of assassination. Kill the assassin.

Gambit looked down the front wall. There were no ledges. He looked on the side, a good 15-16 feet to the next building. He might make it with a good running start.

There was smoke everywhere now. He didn't have much time, before it would be to thick to breathe. He went to the other side of the roof, and ran as fast as he could toward the opposite ledge.

When he came to the raised ledge, he jumped. He seemed to hang there forever. Even with his athletic skills, Gambit could tell he would fall just short.

He hit the wall at chest level. With his arms and hands he grasped for a hold. Then he slid down, and managed to catch the ledge with his fingers. But he couldn't hold on. His Fingers slipped.

Just then, a dark figure reached down and caught his wrists.

The glow from a street light showed that it was Warren.

"T'ank god. You made it just...in...time?" Gambit looked at Archangel's Face. Warren was grinning mischievously. The fingers that grasped his wrists slackened, and suddenly Gambit was falling. None

caught him this time.

Warren off the front of the building and glided down to the street. As soon as he landed, he ran back into the alley where he'd dropped Gambit. He had to make sure.

He entered the alley, and found Gambit laying in a garbage dumpster.

Perfect. His heartbeat returned to normal.

Well, there's nothing else we'll learn here tonight, Warren said, as he helped Gambit out of the dumpster.

"What happened to de arsonist?"

"He's the city morgue's problem now." Warren sighed. "Let's go home."

"I'm wit' you, mon ami. Rogue and me have some more celebratin' to do." Gambit sniffed. "Did you have to drop me? Couldn't you have tried to pull me up?"

"What? And pull a muscle?" Warren laughed. Gambit didn't think it was that funny.

 

GambitGuild is neither an official fansite of nor affiliated with Marvel Enterprises, Inc.
Nonetheless, we do acknowledge our debt to them for creating such a wonderful character and would not dream of making any profit from him other than the enrichment of our imaginations.
X-Men and associated characters and Marvel images are © Marvel Enterprises, Inc.
The GambitGuild site itself is © 2006 - 2007; other elements may have copyrights held by their respective owners.