Betrayal - REVIEW THIS STORY

Written by Valerie Jones
Last updated: 01/02/2007 02:01:11 AM

Chapter 31

"So what's up, Chuck?" Wolverine asked as he entered the room. He nodded to several of the gathered X-men and then settled against the edge of Charles' desk, arms crossed. The study was beginning to feel crowded, and there were a few yet to arrive. Charles greeted Wolverine, but did not answer his question. He would have to wait along with everyone else.

The conversations in the room were muted, as if no one were paying much attention to what they were saying. But it was a way to cover their curiosity. They could all sense that something important was going to happen, but were too polite to speculate out loud. Two people sat at the focus of that curiosity: Gambit was curled up in one of the stuffed leather-bound chairs, looking more unhappy with every passing moment, and Emma Frost sat silently in a similar chair on the other side of the desk. Charles had explained only sketchily when he had requested her presence, but her demeanor was as placid and aloof as always. She lounged in her chair with complete confidence, utterly still except for the minuscule tapping of her booted foot.

Jean and Betsy arrived last. They had been in another room, talking over their respective parts in the coming exercise. At least, an "exercise" was how Charles was choosing to look at it. What he was proposing to do could be quite dangerous. Hopefully, the results would prove the risk well worth taking. Jean nodded to him, and the two women found places around the room.

Charles glanced briefly at Rogue. He wasn't certain what Remy had told her, but she sat a little ways from him, her expression a mixture of frustration and worry. He had gotten the impression that she had tried to argue with him, but hadn't been able to raise any response. Remy had grown very withdrawn, as if he were awaiting execution, almost. Charles was startled by the sudden revelation. Though he didn't know why, he now realized that the young man was indeed waiting for his life to end-- figuratively, if not literally.

Charles cleared his throat. "Thank you all for your swift arrival. I know you are curious as to why I've summoned you." A few nods followed his words, but no one spoke.

"As you are all aware, a number of events throughout the past few months have placed a great deal of emphasis on the possibility that the X-men will be betrayed and killed at some point in the future. This is the future history of which Bishop warned us when he first arrived here." Bishop leaned forward in his chair, his expression both surprised and intense.

"These events also seem to revolve around Gambit's presence with the X-men, though the reasons for this are unclear." Charles gestured toward Remy, who did not acknowledge him. He was staring steadily at a point in space, apparently oblivious to everything around him. Charles doubted that, but did not see the need to disturb him at this point.

"Remy and I have spoken about this at great length, and he is willing to allow me to probe his memories for anything that may shed light on the mystery." Expressions of surprise were mirrored around the room at the pronouncement. Some were even disbelieving. Not that Charles could blame them. He'd been shocked when Remy had proposed the idea to him, and from their conversation had gotten the distinct impression that Remy had reasons other than his crippled telepathic skills for wanting to keep his thoughts private. But there was a heavy measure of desperation in the young Cajun. He, at least, was convinced that he was responsible for the deaths of the X-men, despite the fact that he continued to vehemently deny any knowledge of those deaths.

Charles shook off his thoughts and continued his explanation.

"Because of the unknown nature of Remy's telepathic abilities, there is a fair amount of danger associated with a mind probe. Not only to those of us involved, but quite possibly to anyone in the vicinity. Therefore, Jean will be acting as my backup, so that she can shield me if necessary and vice versa. I have asked Emma to join us as well, and she and Elizabeth will be ready to act if there is any risk to all of you. If you wish, you can simply leave the grounds. Distance should provide sufficient protection. I would suggest that you take yourselves a fair distance away, however-- into town, at the very least."

"Isn't this a little extreme?" Scott's attention was split between his wife and Charles.

Charles nodded. "Probably. But I would rather be prepared for any contingency."

Wolverine was watching Remy intently, his customary scowl firmly in place. "You really o.k. with this, Cajun?" he asked gruffly. Those who knew him well could see that his roughness masked a deep concern. Of all of the X-men, Charles thought, Wolverine probably understood Gambit better than anyone else. He was certainly the closest male friend Remy had among them.

"It was my idea, Logan." Remy's answer was faint. He didn't move, nor did his empty gaze change. Rogue was chewing on her lip, as if resisting the impulse to say something, and her eyes on Wolverine were full of mute appeal.

Wolverine shrugged, as if the answer were good enough for him.

Charles took a deep breath and surveyed the room. Unsurprisingly, no one was gathering themself to leave. He had figured that curiosity would keep them all present. Not just because of the possibility of exposing the betrayal, but because they might unravel some of the mystery of Gambit himself.

"Very well," Charles said. "Jean, are you ready?"

Jean nodded and brought a chair over to sit beside him. Charles looked at Betsy and Emma, and received their nods in return.

"Remy?"

The red eyes flicked to him, filled with apprehension. But as Charles opened his mind, he could feel the walls that surrounded Remy's thoughts being dismantled, piece by piece, as the young man struggled to allow him access. He felt Jean's presence join his, and together they stepped inside.