The Long Way Home
Jean came around in a daze, her vision was blurred at first but within seconds her eyes focused but the pain that shot through her head forced her eyes closed again, she reached to the back of her skull where the pain was coming from, there was a lump the size of her fist, recoiling her hand in agony jean opened her eyes, she brought her hand back round only to noticed the blood dripping from her fingers, she ignored the pain and examined her surroundings.
The room was bright even though the windows were covered in mud sunlight shined in through them, the wooden frames surrounding the windows had slowly rotted away through years of neglect and white chips of paint were scattered on the floor beneath. The room was entirely empty and as she walked across them they creaked loudly, her footsteps echoed through the room, she stumbled towards the large wooden door and pushed it open, this revealed the rest of the house to her.
She slowly walked across the floor, this room was empty as well, the walls had wallpaper peeling off of them and yellow stains of what could only be explained as grease ran from the bottom to the top in huge blotches, it smelled as if many different sorts of animals had called this there home at some point, Jean hastily moved towards the front door of the house, she attempted to open it but it was locked, she’d have to use her powers, she summoned her telepathic abilities but as soon as she focused her powers on the door her head exploded with pain, she became dizzy and stumbled, she fell against the wall and slid to the floor cradling her head in her hands, there was no more blood but the pain was intense, she forced herself back up and looked around, the window was at a jar…
The swampy undergrowth still surrounded her but she could hear the tell tale sounds of human life just up ahead, She burst out through a web of vines and mossy mould, the French quarter of New Orleans was bustling with life, people laughing, talking and going about there business, Jean clumsily made her way towards them, as she entered the crowd many people stopped and stared at her, mouths wide open in shock, half her head was covered in blood and dirt stained her clothes all over, she was battered and bruised with cuts all over her arms and face where she’d stumbled through thorns and brambles, a cool, calm familiar voice sounded from behind her,
“Madam Grey, Well please do excuse my sayin’ so but you are not lookin’ in the best of conditions.”
She turned around to see Gambit; he stood in his long tanned leather coat, hair unkempt and messy with the trademark sly smirk on his rugged handsome face.
But he wasn’t alone, next to him was a young girl around the age of eighteen, her dark waist length hair blew around in the wind, she was slim and tall with a beautiful face, she said nothing just simply smiled at Jean, her face had the same sly look about it that Gambit’s did.
“Ah Remy… How are you?”
“Tres bien mon chery, all the better for seeing a pretty girl like yourself here, Shall we?”
He offered out his hand to Jean, she refused it but followed, they walked for a while, people still staring at the odd little group as they made there way in to the Old Point Bar, they sat in the corner of the room, away from the gaggle of Miami Dolphin fans who were watching the results of last nights game.
“Here we are again darling.” Remy directed this to the girl he was with, she smiled at him, I believe y’all would enjoy a drink Miss Grey?”
“Uh yes, thanks Remy just water.”
Gambit looked at her mockingly then shouted the bartender for a large bourbon and a glass of water, Jean got up from the table, and turned to Gambit.
“I should go clean myself up Remy, where’s the bathroom?”
“Qui you seem to have a peekon in your neck dare dat needs seein’ to.” He laughed to himself and pointed out the bathroom.
As she cleaned the blood out of her matted hair, Jean’s memory of what had happened began to return, flashbacks of a confrontation with Mystique flooded her head, but then just darkness…
As she tried to remember the door to the toilettes swung open, the girl who was with Gambit floated in and up next to Jean.
“My dear what ever did happen to you?”
“I…I actually don’t know, I just woke up in a house far in to the swamp, I don’t know where, all I can remember is running in to an old enemy and then nothing.”
“Who was dis enemy of yours?”
Jean laughed, “No one you would know, and for that matter I don’t even know who you are”.
The girl looked at her with the same sly look she’d given her earlier, “Why my names Rachelle I’m your friend Remy’s daughter.”
Jean was shocked, she had no idea Remy had any children whatsoever, she became aware of how she must look staring at her with an open mouth, she composed herself,
“Well its nice to meet you Rachelle I’m Jean.” She held out her hand,
Rachelle took it “Charmed beb, Daddy’s told me all about you.” As she said this she smiled and an electric shock shot up jeans arm making her cry out.
“Impressive.” Jean whispered, Rachelle’s grin grew and she turned to leave,
“If y’all wanna catcha ride back to yas x-men I’d hurry up, he’s gone to go get a car now.”
Jean quickly repositioned a few strands of hair and ran out after Remy’s daughter.
Outside it was bright and the two women had to cover their eyes as they exited the bar, they heard a low rumble that seemed to be getting closer.
“Right on time!” laughed Rachelle.
The Lamborghini Gallardo screeched up next to them the window slides down revealing Gambit, smiling slyly once again.
“Get in!” he shouted.
Jean wasn’t quite sure whether to or not, she could hear sirens in the distance, but before she could make her decision Rachelle pushed her quite violently down and in to the Lambo, Gambit waited for his daughter to get in to the car before he sped off in to the distance leaving passers by staring after them.
They’d been driving for many hours, Jean didn’t know where they were, all she wanted was to get back home, she hurt all over and her head was aching severely, Gambit broke the silence in the car,
“I know we got ourselves a bit of a ro day goin here ladys but am afraid we’re gunna have to make a pit-stop and get some gas for dis beb.”
“Good I need some aspirin.” Jean answered.
“I’m mighty hungry as well!” Rachelle piped up.
“You got any money beb? Cause I shure don’t.”
Rachelle looked up at Remy and scowled at him
“Less bahbin Rachelle!” warned Gambit.
Jean couldn’t help but laugh at this, as the thought of Remy being a father was questionable at best.
The mood was calm entering the gas station, Jean and Rachelle entered the store and Gambit proceeded to fill up the stolen Lambo.
It happened all of a sudden and without warning, All they heard was a loud crash, and when they looked up all they saw was a sixteen wheeler rolling straight at the gas station, Jean grabbed Rachelle and dragged her to the floor, as the truck impacted with the first fill up station the whole place went up, cars driving past swerved out of the way causing many crashes.
Jean pushed the shelf that had fallen on top of her off, Rachelle stood up next to her,
“Where’s my dad?” Rachelle Stammered.
There was a dead silence, and then they heard another loud boom, and a roar of pain.
They jumped over the toppled shelves and outside, the floor was burnt and in some places still burning, bits of debris were strewn around the place like litter on the sidewalk, the truck lay in the middle of what was the gas station and the smell of burning rubber, tarmac and petrol filled the air, they both covered there mouths and ran around the truck to find the source of the noise.
As they turned the corner what they saw they didn’t quite grasp at first, Gambit fending off what looked like Wolverine and a goliath of a creature they couldn’t recognise.
Rachelle ran in and shot an electric bolt straight in to Logan’s chest, he flew back and as he hit the floor his skin began to peel back to reveal a blue scaly snake like skin, it followed up through his body and up to his face, it was Mystique,
The shock of this had distracted all three of them and they didn’t notice the creature running towards Rachelle, she screamed which brought Gambit back to his senses, he bolted over Rachelle and swung his staff directly in to the creatures side, it flew sideways in to a brick wall and was still, Gambit turned towards Mystique. But she wasn’t where she fell, they all looked from side to side, scanning the area, a whistle echoed from behind them,
“Looking for me?” Mystique sniggered as she calmly swaggered towards them, “ I believe you have something of mine!” she pointed at Remy.
“My lady… or whatever you are…” Remy chuckled; Mystique scowled at him “I did think we were done with our affairs.
“Not when you’re in possession of what’s rightfully mine!” Screamed Mystique, this time she pointed at Rachelle. “That’s our daughter Gambit!” silence followed, Rachelle turned a pasty colour, “You abandoned me with it!” she snarled “And I’m not going to let you take her away now I’ve found her, killing you is just a bonus” she smirks, there’s suddenly a thumping sound coming from all around them, the creature staggers to Mystiques side,
“Just something I picked up along the way.” Mystique laughed his names G13, a test tube mutant…” G13 just stood there barely breathing, it was at least 8 feat tall and was built like a house, muscles popped out of everywhere on its huge body and saliva dripped from its mouth to the floor.
At this moment Jean spoke
“What happened between us Mystique? Why did I wake up with this cut on my head?”
“Sweetie you can’t remember? Well you were simply all on your one out in the open… I needed to test him on someone.” Mystique gestured at G13.
This enraged Jean she didn’t care about the pain, she wanted revenge, and Mystique sensed this,
“Get her!” She ordered G13, it roared and started running towards Jean, something was wrong though, Jeans head felt like it exploded the pain was unbearable she screamed and her eyes began to glow, the pure energy she was radiating shot over her like fire, G13 having more brawn than brains and not sensing the danger ran straight in to Jean as soon as the poor disfigured creature touched the fire surrounding Jean it had dissolved within seconds, the fire began to grow, Mystique was already gone when Gambit turned, he grabbed Rachelle by the arm and ran as fast as he could, the fire was gaining on them, he pushed Rachelle behind a rock and threw himself after, the fire roared over them for what seemed like forever.
As soon as the fire had died down, Gambit and Rachelle emerged, they walked through the smoke searching for any signs of life, they reached a clearing where everything around disintegrated and in the middle lay Jean, Gambit knelt beside her and felt for a pulse,
“Is she ok?” asked Rachelle.
“She may be, ah tink we should take her to the Professor, stay wit her… I’ll go get us a car.”
After stealing another car and being chased by the police, Gambit drove for the rest of that day and all night, by morning he’d reached Xavier’s school, Scott ran out to take Jean from Gambit,
“What happened!?” cried Scott,
“Well your lady friend and us ran in to a lil bit’o trouble wit Mystique, ah dunno what happened but she was on fire for a while.”
Scott immediately turned and walked in to the school, Gambit turned to Rachelle,
“Let’s go beb.”
By John Glover
GS8-2
