Beau Chaos Ch. 3

Vérités
 Disclaimer: I do not own any of these characters…and yes some of them will probably be OOC…and there will be some character bashing…but this is a fan fiction and as the author I am taking liberties in my writing.

"Provoked passion,
Enthralling disaster,
The two intertwined,
Making hearts beat faster"
(Beautiful Chaos, Danielle Mitchell)

The next day, the professor and Jean made their way, again, down to the lower levels. However, this time they headed towards the med lab. It was still early in the morning, the sun just beginning to rise, so not many of the mansion's residents were awake yet. The quiet whir of Xavier's wheelchair as it moved and Jean's footsteps were the only sounds heard in the hallway.

Both telepaths were calming their thoughts in order to prepare themselves for the upcoming task that they would be partaking in. There was a tension in the air, borne from the nervousness and unsure feeling about what they might discover about their wayward reclusive and often off putting teammate. It was disconcerting knowing that Remy would not like them doing this and that he would feel as if he were having his privacy invaded. However, they had no choice, they needed to contact Remy and ask him specifically what he is hiding that would make him so valuable to Magneto and Sinister's plan.

Finally, they had reached their destination and the automatic door, that marked the med labs entrance, slid open to allow them access to the predominately white room. The moved silently into the room and with a nod in Hank's direction they sat on either side of Remy's bed. Xavier initiated the entering of Remy's mind, before Jean joined him.

The two astral projections gazed at the formable static shield that was erected before them. Even in their basic form, Remy's mental protections that were natural for him were awe inspiring for the two telepaths, because usually they could not even get this far into Remy's consciousness to gaze at his natural defense against telepaths. However, they quickly noticed the cracks in the foundation and knew that they needed to hurry and help Remy with whatever was causing this breakdown.

The astral projections moved towards the cracking, crackling shield and knocked. It did not take long before their silent request was answered and a doorway appeared in the shield. The door opened and Xavier and Jean inhaled deeply before entering the most likely hectic mind of their hurt comrade.

The first thing they noticed was the way Remy's mind was compartmentalized. There was a hallway with several doors on either side. On each door there was an observation window and a name plate. The layout worried the telepaths as they stepped towards the closest door. It was labeled "X-Men" and inside they could see a computer screen flashing images. As they watched, the theme of the images became apparent, every time the team blamed something on Remy or became angry with the thief. The reel of images ended on him behind in the unforgivable wasteland.

Xavier and Jean back away from the door, "If this is what he remembers when thinking about us, it's no wonder he didn't return." Jean stated with a look of sorrow in her eyes. They walked further down the hall the next door they came to was labeled Marauders. When they gazed into the room they noticed a figure sitting in front of the screen. They knocked on the window pane to gain Remy's attention, however, when he turned around they gasped. He looked to be younger, about 18, and his eyes were puffy red from tears. His wide gaze terrified before he darted across the room and opened a door that they hadn't noticed previously. As Remy ran out the door, the walls of his mind began to crumble down.

Xavier and Jean chased after the fleeing projection of their teammate, watching as his body became smaller and smaller until they were chasing a child through the memories of his past. They observed as Sinister extracted part of his brain. They watched as his brother-in-law attempted to kill him in a duel and Remy's act of defense which lead to Julien's death instead. The witnessed his bout of depression, at the age of about 15, he suffered from after his cousin drowned during their escape from slavery.

Before they could view anymore tragedies in Remy's life, the area around them became black. "So much death witnessed by one so young." Xavier said as they gazed at the quietly sobbing child in front of them. Jean kneeled down and gently touched Remy's shoulders; he raised his head and gazed at her with large lost eye, tears streaking down his face. "Pourquoi je faire cause seulement la douleur, partant la mort et la destruction dans mon chemin ? Est-ce parce que je suis une aberration ou le frai du diable?" (Why do I only cause pain, leaving death and destruction in my path? Is it because I am a freak or the devil's spawn?) The young boy asked.

"No child, it is not your fault that these things happened." Xavier stated in a calm voice, as Jean rested Remy's head in her lap and combed her fingers through his hair.

"Den why do dey all say et is?" The question brings flashing memories of faces around the small group. Each one filled with anger and contorted with disgust aimed at the young child.

"They just don't understand and were taking their frustrations out on you. It was neither the correct thing to do, nor was it healthy for your psyches development." Charles stated as he kneeled in front of the de-aged projection.

"But da oder mutants Ah know do da same ding. What about dem?"

"I know child, unfortunately your defensive devices that you utilize are so well developed that none of us have been able to see through your mask that we have believed was your true self." Xavier replied as he analyzed Remy's actions and understood the actual meanings and reasons for them.

"But we're here for you now Remy. We want to make up for not only our own mistakes but assist you with the betrayal from the others in your life." Jean said softly as she carded her fingers through his hair.

"Non, nobody help Remy, all people do is take and hurt Remy." The child exclaimed as he jumped away from the older mutants.

"I know that your experience with other people has not refuted this statement, however, we want to atone for our past misgivings, if you allow us, and help you heal from your past wounds." Xavier calmly stated, slowly advancing on the younger projection.

"What do you want Remy to do for you? Ev'ryone always wants somet'ing." Remy asked glumly, his eyes downcast and his posture resigned.

"No child, you have already done too much, it is far past our time to earn your trust, but all we can offer right now is a tithe of what we owe." Charles replied a light smile turning the corners of his mouth a bit. However, the smile was wiped away when he saw how Remy reacted.

Remy's eyes dilated in horror and gained a glazed appearance. His body began to grow until there was a tall, lanky, young, teenager, where the ten year old had been. The screens surrounding them flared to life and they watched how quickly one innocent word could dredge forth a painful memory in their comrades mind without a warning.

Jean and Xavier watched from Remy's point of view what happened on the day of his cousin's Tithing. The young Remy followed his slightly older cousin, only by a year roughly. Nervous energy was masked by cocky grins as they made their way to Etienne's assignment. As they got closer the grins fell off the young faces and serious determination replaced them.

Etienne was surrounded by a dark, murky pink color and Xavier pondered if this was something only Remy could see or if Etienne was a mutant of some type. He brought himself out of his thoughts in order to watch what was going on in front of him. As he turned back to the memory, he noticed they were now in front of a large mansion. He watched interestedly, through Remy's eyes, as Etienne picked the lock to the door. However, as Remy looked around Xavier and Jean noticed a dark black looking miasma surrounding the mansion.

Jean looked at the professor with a worried look, whatever was about to happen would not be good.  As Etienne and Remy crept into the horse they tried to locate the most valuable looking item in sight to steal and take home as proof of Etienne's success so he could be officially accepted into the Thieves Guild. However, as Remy looked around he was confused. Some of the items looked familiar; he turned to Etienne just in time to see an object hurtling through the air, right at him. He quickly leapt to the other side and ran towards his cousin. "Etienne, are you sure dis be da right house?" Remy asked as they ran down the hall.

"Oui, dis be da house dat be given to me, but dere's something familiar about some of dese t'ings." Etienne stated, and then hooked a right, before having to skid to a stop.

In front of the two boys was a woman with a flowing red night gown covering her shapely body; her hair was raised around her and her eyes were alight with anger. The two teenagers took an unconscious step back, and when they did she flicked her hands. The chandelier from above them detached from the ceiling, as if it were yanked by someone before uncurling it arms and wrapping itself around the two thieves and tightening its grasp on them.

The woman walked down the steps from the second floor of the mansion, one of her hands were gliding down the banister rail, the other was in a slightly closed fist. She hazed at her intruders and her anger grew. "You dare steal from me! Do you know who I am?" The powerful woman asked in a commanding gravelly voice. "I am the immortal Candra, benefactor and protector of your guild, my little thieves. Now what makes you think you can steal from me?" As she spoke, her fist clenched closed and the chandelier tightened around the two boys.

"Si'l vous plaît, Mademoiselle, but we were given this address for my Tithing." Etienne spoke through gritted teeth against the pain of the chandelier tightening.

"Lies, your Tithe comes to me puny mortal, did you think I would not recognize something stolen from me." Candra spit out as her eyes blazed with anger and her fists clenched tighter.

Remy gasped in pain, and finally looked up at their captors face. "Si'l vous plaît, we are tellin' the truth. Please let us go!" Remy gasped out.

Candra turned her attention from Etienne to Remy and took a step back in shock. Her lapse in concentration released her deathly hold over the chandelier arms and they loosed, allowing the teens to breathe easier.

"You!" Candra hissed out as she took in Remy's appearance. "I know you, you in sufferable street rat and I know just how to punish for your transgressions against me." Candra stated as she stood tall, a hard glint in her eyes. She retightened the chandelier arms with a twitch of her fingers, and then she hung the teens in the air. "You boys stay here while I call your soon to be master to come and retrieve his new property." Candra said as she walked further into the mansion. She glanced back once with a hateful smile plastered on her face.

The scene blurred before Xavier's and Jean's eyes as Remy lost consciousness. However, they were quickly presented with the rest of the memory as Remy awoke to the sound of heavy footsteps echoing on the wooden floor. "So," *snort* "these are my new merchandise, huh." *snort* "I guess they're not too bad," *snort* "they might still be young enough to mold" *snort* "and if not, then" the man paused here to chuckle with grunting mixed in the dry laughter before continuing his comment. "I get to break these two pretty boys." He smiled evilly and continued his disturbing laughter as if what he just said was the most hilarious thing in his life.

"Yes, yes, I'm sure you'll enjoy their training greatly Pig, just take them away from my sight and make sure they don't get away. I want them to suffer for trying to double cross me, but especially the younger one." Candra stated at first in a bored and disdainful tone before turning cold and cruel.

Remy looked up at the giant man in front of him, his deformed body sickened Remy. He looked like a botched science experiment, he stood well over six feet high and his face had a mixture of both human and pig features. However, it was not only his snout, folded ears or hooves that shocked the two telepaths but the muddy forest green color surrounding him.

Before either of them could contemplate on the meaning behind the aura, the Pig pulled the two teens down from the ceiling pulling Remy and them from their thoughts. The rough handling and the still too tight grip of the chandelier arms around the boys chest was too much and they fell unconscious again.

The next scene started with Remy startling awake to water flooding his systems. As he took in his surrounding and realized his head was being forced under water. He thrashed around trying to remove the hand that was attempting to drown him, but then suddenly he was pulled up by his hair. He gasped for air and blinked the water from his eyes before looking around. He saw Etienne across from him recovering from the same wake up call. He also noticed they were in a warehouse, the windows were at least thirty feet high and then he noticed the cages filled with other young boys and girls.

"Now that you're awake," *snort* "we can figure out where you best fit in." *snort* The Pig said with a smirk. "Let's give our newest," *snort* "inventory a tour of the facilities." *snort* The Pig turned around and signaled the two lackeys to follow with Remy and Etienne in tow. "You know, life is not easy for freaks and no one respects someone like me," *snort* "But soon I grew tired of taking shit," *snort* "from others and decided that I needed to get the respect that I was owed." *snort* I joined a gang as an errand boy who was used to scare reluctant clients who owed the boss payments." *snort* "Soon my boss realized my talents were being wasted on such low grade deals. He saw my potential," *snort* "and put me in charge of part of the human trafficking job." *snort* "So you see your future is in my hands, and the quicker you understand that and respect me" *snort* "the easier it will be on you." The Pig said as he bent down to look the two teens in the eyes, but as he did Etienne spit in his face. The Pig reared back and with a roar slapped Etienne in the face with enough force to knock him down if he wasn't being held up by one of the lackeys. "Send him to the whores" *snort* "first off" the Pig sneered.

"Non, si'l vous plait, don't. He didn' mean it," Remy cried out as Etienne began to struggle with the two gang members dragging him off to be raped. "Take me instead, please!"

"Hmm, no," *snort* "that little piece of shit" *snort* "needs to learn his fucking place in the world" *snort* "and right now I say that place is underneath another man" *snort* "servicing him like the little bitch he is." *snort* The Pig stated with a gleam in his eyes before continuing "and if you keep it up," *snort* "I'll make him service me while you watch." *snort*

"No, Etienne Je suis désolé, s'il vous plaît me pardoner" Remy cried out as his cousin was taken around the corner and away from Remy's sight.

"Now then, lets continue" *snort* "I already know where you're going you little mutant." *snort* "I have a special client who specifically asks for all the mutants" *snort* "I have to be sent to him. Of course," *snort* "since so very few trickle through my hands I have to send him others also." *snort* "You my little mutant are going to become a soldier for the not so prestigious HYDRA group." *snort* "But don't worry, before we send our Boys out to fight we train you, and they'll further your training because of your mutation." *snort* "However, I get to train you and the rest of your shipment in basic combat." *snort*

Finally they stopped in front of a cage with about thirteen other young teenage boys. They all looked like normal humans but they had a hard look in their eyes. "Now you kids be nice to your new comrade," *snort* "Oh, and if that little bitch of yours behaves I might consider placing him with you." *snort* "Of course, it's really up to him." *snort*

The Pig pushed Remy into the cage with the other boys before slamming the door shut and locking it. He sneered at Remy before turning around and walking away, but as he was walking away he said out loud. "I think I'm gonna go and try out that new bitch." *snort*

"Non, salaud, tu ne le touche putain! Je vais te tuer!" (No, you bastard, don't you fucking touch him! I'll kill you!) Remy screamed as he ran to the door and shook it. But Pig didn't pay him any attention as he loosened his belt in anticipation of what was to come.

Remy felt a couple of arms pull him back away from the cage door, but he just shrugged them off. He went to a corner close to the door and sat down with his knees up to his chest and his head resting on them. He cried as he listened to Etienne scream out in pain and the snorting laughter of the Pig enjoying the pain he was causing the teen.

Remy fell asleep huddled up in the corner, exhausted from the emotional experience. He woke up to someone shaking him for a brief moment he thought it was all just a nightmare, but when he opened his eyes he saw that he was still in the cage with the other boys.

"Hey come on, you have to wake up now. If you don't get up before they come you won't get any food." In front of him a boy was crouching in front of him trying to get him up.

"What do you care," Remy asked as he moved his cramped legs until they were straight in front of him. He tried massaging feeling back into them as he kept an eye on the boys surrounding him. 'He was already backed up into a corner, which could be a good thing because no one could come up behind him; however he was still vulnerable in the front because his escape routes were slim to none if they decided to attack him.

"He let me help," the teenager placed his hands on the legs, and before Remy could argue, a bright emerald green color concentrated around his hands and Remy felt his muscles un-cramping and a healing flood throughout his body.

"My name's Jason, and as you've probably figured out by now, I am also a mutant." Remy looked up at the boy in front of him and took in his presence. He had a slim body and soft features; his hair was brown, curly and framed his face making him look even younger. He had green eyes, the same as the glow, but as he looked into them he noticed they were changing and the emerald changed to a light blue. As the healing light faded away, a grin took residence on Jason's face and Remy was able to see that the same light surrounded his entire body, but not as strong. "Well now that you're a bit more comfortable, you might be more receptive to talking."

"Merci," Remy mumbled, a little dazed.

"Oh, is this the first time you've met another mutant?" Jason asked taking a look at Remy's face.

Remy shook his head, answering the question and bringing his focus to the present. "Non, it's jus' dat de other one's have not been, charmant." Remy stated with a slight grimace on his face.

"Well, I guess you have met the Pig by now, silly me to forget that, although his mutation is purely physical and not even natural, it can certainly be disconcerting. Oh my, forgive my lapse in manners, what is your name?" Jason prattled on before stopping and looking quizzically at Remy.

"Mon nom est Remy" He stated as he used the bars next to him to edge himself up into a standing position. He lifted his eyes and looked at the others standing around him. He flinched a little at the sound of audible intakes of breath that happened when he did.

"Well those look pretty cool, what do they do? I mean, what's your mutation, is it just your eyes?" Jason leaned forward, excitement dancing in his eyes.

Remy shrugged, figuring it was best to keep his abilities quiet for as long as possible, well at least his more volatile ones. "I see…what are dey called, 'auras.'" What about you?" Remy asked, deflecting attention back on Jason.

"Well…obviously I heal, however, my mutation isn't completely matured, at least I hope not." Jason said in a joking way as swallowed loudly.

"Why do you say that?" Remy asked genuinely curious and worried what that might mean for his own mutations. 'What if they weren't done? What if there were more, could he handle them if he didn't even have full control over what he currently had?'

"Well, to tell you the truth, I can't heal major injuries. I cannot bring someone back from the brink of death, nor can I heal myself." Jason whispered into Remy's ear so no one else could hear his secret.

Remy blanched a little, "That must be very frustrating for you."

"Yeah it is, but at least I only have that one mutation, well that and a slightly higher intelligence. A lot of good that one does me here though," Jason said sarcastically.

"Is it normal to have more than one mutation?" Remy asked voice full of innocent curiosity.

"Well, mutations are classed differently based on the potential of you mutation. I only have a standard mutation and my ability is limited and not all that powerful. However, if my abilities were to develop and become stronger then I would have a secondary mutation. However, there are mutants with high potential and those are called Omega levels." Jason finished his speech and while he spoke the others in the cage seemed to be bored and wandered away from Remy's corner to go talk amongst them.

"How you know all t'at?" Remy asked a little confused by all the information Jason just told him.

"Well you see, I'm not exactly supposed to be here. Well, none of us belong here, but I was not supposed to be in Louisiana, let alone New Orleans. You see I am currently enrolled at a school dedicated to kids like you and me, but I came down here on a lead that my family had moved down here. If they did they were gone before I could verify it. I was too embarrassed to go home with my newest failure to catch up with them." Jason sighed, "You see, once they found out I was a mutant they shipped me out and uprooted. I've been chasing after them ever since, I know the others feel pity for me, but I can't just give up on them, you know?" Jason asked, his eyes pleading for someone to understand.

Remy felt the desperation coming off of Jason in waves. The need for someone to tell him he's not crazy or stupid for holding on to the hope that his family will accept him and not think him a freak. Remy could understand that, he was sure he if his family had abandon him again he would latch onto something, anything, too. Jason latched onto the hope of finding his family and that's what's driving him through life right now.

"Yeah, I know." Remy said, assurance flowing from him and into Jason.

Jason's tense muscles relaxed and his breathing became less frantic. "Whoa, was that you, is that you're gift, are you an empath? I thought for sure you'd have some sort of kinetic energy or shape shifting abilities because of your eyes." Jason blurted out in a jumbled out mess. "Can you do anything else besides projecting? Oh thanks by the way for calming me down, didn't mean to unload on you like that and fall apart." Jason said with a small smile towards Remy before brightening up with a triumphant gleam in his eyes. "Oh wait, I bet your eyes have to do with your aura seeing. That is so cool! Am I right, huh, I bet I'm right." Jason gushed excitedly.

"Pas de problem," Remy said, his voice trailing off before he could say more, distracted by a commotion going on outside of the cage. He stood from his corner and pushed past the other teens as he made his way to the door. Once there he stared in horror, gripping the iron bars for support, as his cousin was dragged towards their cage. His bruised and broken body was limp between the two thugs holding him. And walking in front of them was a smug looking pig.

"I brought you a present Mutants, I really hope you enjoy your whore." Pig said mockingly.

Remy growled in response and was restrained by the other boys when the door opened and Etienne was shoved in. Only after the door was slammed shut did the teens release Remy. Jason was already kneeling by Etienne and had begun healing what he could before the door had even swung shut.

"How is he?" Remy asked worry coursing through Remy, causing his hands to shake, energy beginning to collect there.

"Well considering his situation he's not that bad. He has some bruised ribs and bones. He'll also have some tearing at the anal orifice entrance and be sore for the next couple of days. Of course, that's just the physical side, emotionally and mentally, well we won't be able to really analyze that until he regains consciousness." Jason stated professionally as his healing glow surrounded Etienne.

After Jason had done all that he could, he backed away and motioned two of the taller and stronger teens to gently pick Etienne up. Remy protested at first, but caught on to their purpose of positioning Etienne at the back of the cage. Remy sat down with his back against a corner of the cage. He then motioned for the two carrying his cousin to lay him down in front of him. After they laid him down he positioned Etienne's head in his lap. As the others settled down for the moment, Remy turned his thoughts inward, absent mindedly carding his fingers through his cousin's hair.

A couple of hours later, Jason sidled up beside Remy7, handing him a bowl of food, if you could even call it that. "You need to keep yourself together and as healthy as possible for you and your cousin. We mutants get special training away from the other captives that are more focused on our skills. Pig's in charge of it,, along with some ex-soldier. They don't try any potentially fatal stuff with me anymore, but with you…they might." Jason said spooning the gruel into his mouth and mechanically swallowing the bland food.

"Pourquoi?" Remy questioned.

"They found out that I can't heal myself, and I'm no good dead or paralyzed. So I know basic defensive moves and enough hand to hand combat to keep me alive until someone else arrives. Well that's the plan at least; I could be completely overwhelmed and killed just as well." Jason sighed before continuing, "I don't know what's worse, being trained to be a defenseless nurse or a mindless soldier."

"Thanks for the pep talk, mon ami." Remy sarcastically replied.

"Oh, I'm sorry, I need to learn to keep my mouth shut sometimes, I know. On a better note, your cousin's awake." Jason stated with a sheepish grin.

Remy whirled around to face Etienne, whose eyes were slowly blinking awake. When finally they were fully opened and his eyes had adjusted to the limited light in their cage. After his eyes flicked quickly around taking in their enclosure they landed on Remy and widened in relieved recognition. Etienne placed his hands behind him in order to rise up, but flinched when his lower back muscles twinges.

Jason moved forward, green glow already surrounding his hands as he went over and healed the aches that he could. "I would suggest taking it easy for a while. Or at least ask your cousin or me to help you sit up." Jason then turned to Remy asked "Will you turn your body a bit so that he can lean on your chest for support."

"Now here's some, umm, oatmeal? Well whatever it is you need to eat it, or at least swallow it. Now the amount of damage your back sustained is not limited to your torn anus, but there were also lashings on your back. I was able to heal most of it, but an infection might still set in. That's why you need to store up your energy as much as possible." Jason said as he handed over the bowl of unidentified slop to Etienne's hands.

"Cousin c'est Jason, Jason c'est Etienne. He's been helping you out and will probably be spending most of his time with you." Remy said as he held the bowl up for his cousin. "no more smart ass remarks for a while, alright Etienne?"

"I don't know if I can hold them off for long. C'est dans ma nature." Etienne said with a chuckle.

"I know it'll be a challenge but it will only be for a little while, je vous promets. As soon as I find a hole we can exploit we'll bust out of here." Remy said burying his face into his cousin's hair.

"I trust ya' Remy, I'm sorry I brought you into this mess." Etienne spoke, his voice full of remorse.

"Non, non, it's not your fault mon ami. It's the Bastards who set us up and that Bitch's fault for sending us here, but not yours." Remy argued, angling Etienne's head to face his, trying to drive his point across. "Comprenez-vous?"

Etienne pulled his head away before nodding. Remy sighed and leaned back against the bars of their cage. He encircled Etienne in his arms before pulling him back too. "Dormez cousin, dormir," he said as he slid his hand over his cousins eyes to close them.

The scene blacked out for a couple of seconds as Remy's consciousness lapsed before jerking back to reality because of the sound of the metal cage door slamming.

"Alright worms, you all know what to do!" Pig snarled as he stood back from the door and the teenagers walked out in line. "You meat bags go with Dan and the mutie's come with me," he said as a leer slipped on his face.

Jason leaped to his feet and helped Remy situate Etienne so that they could leave as soon as the door cleared of the others.

"Etienne, I'll come back fo' ya. Aight. You jus' sleep fo' awhile." Remy whispered to his barely conscious cousin. They then turned towards the door and walked out with the rest of the able bodied teens.

"Alright, now you better hope your worth something. 'Cause I better have something to work with instead of some useless healer for all the trouble you and your whore are. Hey Jason, maybe you won't be so useless no more, cause once I'm done with this boy he gonna need your help fixin' him up." Pig said, before snorting and chuckling at the idea. "Alright boy, you know what you do yet, or is you just a pretty face, cause if your eyes all you got, you might be the one better suited for work done on your back." Again the Pig broke out in laughter with snorting mixed in.

However, Remy's eyes flashed dangerously and he growled at the mention of what the thug did to his cousin. His fist clenched as he took a step towards the much larger man and the air crackled with energy. However, it all vanished when Jason laid his hand on his shoulder sending calmness into Remy's rage filled mind and body.

"He's an empathy sir," Jason replied to the Pig as Remy collected himself.

"An empath?" the Pig spat out the word. "Damn they're even more useless than healers. What the fuck is wrong with you two, you can't even be useful as fucking mutants. Hell, I might as well crap ya' I mean can an empath even fucking fight?" Pig sneered, disgustedly at the two small teens in front of him. "Hell the only good you are now is as a crack whore, bitch. Maybe I can use both you and that other bitch as some new meat out on the street. Of course, your value is higher as you're a mutant virgin, but the other one ain't got no prospects now except his body." The Pig smiled gleefully at the idea of recycling the defective products.

Remy's vision went red as he charged the Pig. As he ran he grabbed a broom stick and started twirling it around his body, gaining momentum, before striking at the Pig. After the first hit landed, the Pig roared in indignation and started to try and grab at the broom turned staff. However, Remy spun out of his reach, leaped over his lunges and dodged all of the Pig's attempts, and kept battering his body with direct hits. Until finally the Pig snatched the broom handle and snapped it at the same time it exploded.

"So…your quick too…huh…and uh flexible" the pig said panting in between and licking his lips at the last part. "I guess that means you're not completely useless. And you're not too bad at fighting. I guess we'll just put you in combat skills with the rest of the boys since you power's pretty useless.

"That's not true, you see, as an empath he can make you feel emotions, or sensations such as pain or fear. And if he's powerful enough he might not even have to touch his target. However, he'll probably need a teacher to learn the full scope of his powers." Jason said, cutting in, while stepping in between the two previously fighting mutants and shooting Remy a look.

"Really now, that's good, that's very good. HYDRA will pay a lot for a mutant like that;" his grin widening at the thought of receiving more money for his exclusive products. "First we train you in hand to hand combat then we might find you a teacher or have HYDRA finish off you 'studies'" the Pig stated before whistling to one of his underlings.
"I want you to teach him, I'll leave you the other one to heal him up." The Pig said with a leer before turning away and leaving them. "Oh and don't forget if you don't behave, like you did earlier when you attacked me. I get you cousin." He continued on, his grin growing wider when he heard Remy's cry of anger.

The days dragged on, with Remy's routine growing more extreme and strenuous as they went on. During the weeks that had passed Remy was also working on refining his other power that Jason had noticed during his brief scuffle with the Pig. Even though he knew about his powers before that fateful day, he didn't have much control. that was why he practiced with it during his training, however only during the time it required to heal and aid his "teacher" back into consciousness.

Now he sat in the corner of the cage looking at the card in his right hand. As he stared at the design of the ace of spades he charged it, but right before it reached its climatic stage, he pulled his charge back, returning it back to its harmless stage. His attention was taken away from the aborted bomb when the body lying on his left side began to move. Remy carded his fingers through his cousin's hair to soothe his fever induced fitful mind. Jason has been continuously healing him since their arrival a handful of months ago. However, he couldn't last night since he was dragged off to aid others in the warehouse, and by the time he returned he was worn out. Remy continued to card his fingers as he thought out a plan to escape.

Today was a very important day for the underground boy soldiers slave trade because it was the day before HYDRA was coming to pick up its new shipment of fodder and specialty weapons. Today was also the day that the boys were going to clean up so they looked presentable. Today would be the last chance for Remy to try and escape before he would have to chance contending with other mutant powers of unknown strength. Remy had most of the details planned out; he would wait until they were called out one last time for the Pig to inspect the progress of their training. Then after the non-mutants had finished and started towards showers, or whatever cleaning station they would be using, Remy would show them exactly what he had learned while he was imprisoned here. He would create enough chaos to make sure he, Etienne and Jason were all able to break free and make a run for it. Now all he had to do was tell the other two of the plan.

"Etienne, comment vous sentez-vous? Voulez-vous Jason de vous regarder par-dessus?"

"Non, je vais bien, d'ailleurs, il est épuisé assez de traiter votre cul désolé."


"Oh, I see, that's how you treat your dear cousin who is only concerned about your health. See if I ever ask again how you're doin' from now on." Remy stated in a fake insulted tone.

The day started off with its normal clatter of yelling for the teens to step back as the cage doors were about to be opened. However, instead of the usual gang member coming in to throw down a couple of bowls of slop, the Pig was at the door, and he had an evil look in his eye as he stepped into the dirty cage. "Well, let's see here I've been told one of you ungrateful lot here is too weak to be of any use. I can't let my clients think I'm trying to slip them a weakling, it would ruin a wonderful partnership and I can't have that. So I'll just have to remove the weakling and put them to work in another placement."

Etienne glanced at Remy worriedly; they both knew he'd been sick for the majority of the time they'd been here in this hell hole. He slowly dug his hand in his pocket and pulled out his deck of cards. "Il vous allez cousine, prendre ces dispositions et ne m'oubliez pas."

His hand had just left Remy's when he was yanked up by the hair and dragged out of the cell. "Non, s'il vous plaît arrêter. Laissez-moi aller. Laissez-moi tranquille, s'il vous plaît." However, the Pig just laughed as he pulled up to the pigs face and roughly kissed in front of the cell of boys, right as the cell door closed shut.
Remy's eyes began to glow as his limited control on his more volatile power slipped and a charge began to form on the bars and soon enveloped that entire side. Jason pulled Remy back just in time, as the bars exploded outward knocking Pig down and stunning him long enough for Remy, Etienne and Jason to run out. They ran towards the door of the large warehouse the and the other boys were being held and knew that they need to hurry before the shock wore off of their captors and they began the chase.

"Well that was definitely unmistakably you" Jason said, trying to lighten up the mood.

"I didn' plan that, but if it works, I'll take it." Remy stated as he tossed a charged up card towards the locked doors of the warehouse, making them explode outwards on contact.

The trio quickly ran out, and headed straight into a maze of warehouses and rows. They heard the sound of some of the other boys escaping, but also they heard the angry howl of the Pig and his shouting orders to capture them and bring them back to him, alive.

"Guys, I think we need to split up, I mean it will be harder for them to get us all, if we are not near each other and that way at least one of us has a chance to get out of this hell hole alive." Jason said as he quickly looked back at the large mass of gang members chasing them.

"He's right Etienne, you go ahead and get out of here, me and Jason will lead them elsewhere and meet you up after we dealt with them." Remy said, knowing his cousin was too weak to be of any help in a fight because of his weakened state of health.

Etienne started to protest, but one look at Remy haled him and he nodded his head in understanding, before running forward, as the two mutants started to lead the gang members in a loop around the warehouses exploding obstacles in front of the lackeys to keep them focused on them. After a while, Remy sent Jason off towards the exit also so that he could finally end this chase and hopefully catch up with them later. As Jason took an opposite turn Remy again exploded the pathway shut and as soon as he was sure that he was in a good environment, he stopped and turned towards the gang members that had lasted this long and started analyzing what he had to face to ensure the safety of his friend and cousin.

Remy eyes focused on one with a staff in his hand, before springing towards him, kicking him in the head with a round house and taking the staff from his limp hands before he crumpled to the ground. Once he had the weapon in his hand, he immediately swatted at the two gang members with guns in their hands, forcing them to loosen their grips, before sweeping down and knocking one's feet out from under them with his feet and the knocking the other from behind the knees with the staff, incapacitating them at least for a little while. Next, he focused on the men charging at him, bats, clubs, and crowbars raised and ready to swing down and crack his head open. He leapt to his feet, twirled the staff in his hand getting used to the weight, before snapping his right arm and smacking the man in the face with a sting blow strong enough to stun him. Then he turned his body, swinging the staff around over his head, before bringing it down with all his strength on the second guy's head. When he went to turn to the third guy, his blow was met with a block by the man's crowbar. They each pulled back to throw another blow, but ended up locking up again and again, butyl the gang member used his crow bar to pull the staff out of Remy's hands and toss it across the clearing they were in.

Remy crouched down in a defensive stance, waiting and watching for the right moment to move. They danced around the clearing swinging blows and dodging until Remy maneuvered them into an area under some scaffolding. Now every time the gang member swung he hit a pole, causing his energy to deplete even his faster and his arms to start aching from the reverberating force from the pole. Finally, Remy flipped up onto the scaffolding and ran quietly away from the gang member in order to better position himself for a surprise attack. When the guys was perfectly placed under Remy, Remy flipped down, with one leg straight knocking the guy out when his heel connected with the top of his head.

Remy landed in a crouch on top of his fallen opponent before standing up and running towards the exit of the warehouse district. However, as he neared the area he noticed that Etienne and Jason were not alone, the Pig was also there.

When he was close enough to the open area he pulled out Etienne's playing cards out, charged one and flicked it at the Pig. It exploded right in his face, blinding and wounding him long enough for Remy to meet up with the other two. They quickly tore off towards the exit and followed the road leading away from the horror house of their prison, excitement bubbling up from the so far successful escape.

However, their joy was cut off as they heard the Pig below out a yell before charging towards them. They could feel the ground shake from his heavy footsteps as he followed them. The three boys tuned off the road they were following and headed into the forest surround it, hoping to lose him among the trees, or at least have them be enough of an obstacle to slow him down somewhat. As they raced, and weaved through the trees Jason tripped on a raised root, twisting his ankle. Remy and Etienne turned back to help him up, but before they could even make one step towards them, Jason stopped them. "No you guys go on, I'll only slow you down and then none of us will get free, I just ask you guys to remember me, and if you could, send word to Xavier's school for Gifted Students about what happened, I would be much obliged. Now hurry, quickly before he catches up with us." Jason said, urging them to leave while they still could.

Etienne and Remy both turned around and began to run again, but not before Remy took one last look at his friend and promised to tell that school where Jason was. They had been running for only a moment or so when they heard Jason's scream of pain, before it died off halfway through. They knew the pig would be on them soon too and tried to run faster. But Etienne was slowing down, his body unable to handle the strain after being ill, and not keeping up with his training, his body was weak and his spirit was not fairing much better after their several months' long detention. Etienne began to slow down, and the trees began to thin out, until finally Remy and Etienne found themselves standing in a clearing on a cliffs edge.

They stood there looking from the trees to the cliff before Etienne turned to Remy and asked "que faisons-nous maintenant?" But before Remy could answer the Pig charged through the underbrush and into the clearing. Remy looked at the Pig and to the edge before making his decision. His eyes hardened as he slipped another card in between his fingers to charge. He turned to Etienne and nodded to the cliff "Go I'll be right behind you."

As soon as Etienne turned and took his first step, the Pig began his charge again, in order to procure his property before it killed itself. He already killed one of the mutants, and if he lost the other one he didn't know what HYDRA would do to him. However, Remy stepped between him and his prey and sent a card hurtling towards his face and another at his feet. The Pig stumbled blindly before falling forward just in time to have his head connect with his tornado kick round house. After Remy was sure the Pig was unconscious, he ran to the cliff's edge and dived into the choppy gulf water.

When Remy rose to the top he treaded water for a while to catch his breath and look for Etienne. He finally spied his cousin's bobbing head in the water about 20 feet away. Remy swam towards him, but as he neared he noticed his cousin's difficulty in breathing and staying afloat.

As Remy approached, Etienne gave up on treading water, and attempted to float on his back, but the water was too choppy and tossed around too much. His poor, abused, and weak body couldn't take it and he gave up on trying to stay above the water all together. His body began to sink, and he tried to quicken his demise by inhaling the gulf's sea water. However, before he could succeed in drowning himself, he felt arms encircle his torso and he was lifted up towards the air. As they ascended the light became duller for Etienne, until he passed out from exhaustion and lack of oxygen.

"Come on, stay wit' me cousin." Remy spoke to the unconscious body. "Fine, you lazy ass, I'll make sure we both make it to shore and you can take the credit like always." Remy joked, trying to lighten up, the quickly darkening, situation. "Alright, let's move t'is forward."

With that Remy turned on his back and began kicking towards shore, while dragging Etienne. It wasn't long before Remy noticed storm clouds above and he began to worry.

"Dear Lord and Dismus, please protect my cousin and me. Please, I call on Saint Vitus and Our Lady of Assumption to protect us from the storm that is coming our way, Amen." After Remy said his prayer, hoping that it would be heard, he quickened his kick, just in case it wasn't. After all as far as he was concerned, for the most part, if his cousin didn't have bad luck, he wouldn't have luck at all. And who knew if hanging around his cousin so much could rub that bad luck off onto him.

They were almost to shore, only about 25 yards left, when the storm hit, and the gulf became rambunctious. It wasn't long before Remy could feel his cold fingers losing grip of his cousin as the waters pulled harder and harder for him.

Remy swore and readjusted his grip to where his arms would hopefully be more secure, before continuing on. However, since he wasn't really able to look ahead, he was unprepared for the rock he swam right into, with the help of a swelling waves push. The hit momentarily stunned Remy long enough for him to loosen his grip of his cousin.

The moment his body wen slack both of them began descending into the dark water. However, Remy regained consciousness quick enough to rise the six feet needed so he could break the surface. He looked around but did not see Etienne, and finally he noticed the bubbles rising from underwater. He quickly dove back under and tried to swim after the source of the air pockets. He tried to take his clothes off, because they were only slowing him down, but while his attention was distracted, he lost sight of the bubbles and when he glanced back up to continue his dive, not only could he not find the trail, but his lungs were burning. He let out a wail of anguish and swam back towards the top.

He floated there sobbing, letting the waves move him back and forth, no longer really caring. He'd lost his cousin and a friend all in one day, and it was his entire fault. Eventually, his feet started touching ground and he noticed how close he was to the shore. Remy dragged himself onto the sand before allowing the exhaustion and guilt consume him and drag him into unconsciousness.

When he awoke the sun was shining on his face, and it was in stark contrast to his mood. As he looked at himself he saw a dark, muddy green and a red color coming off of him and knew that this aura would be around for a long time.

He slowly made his way up on his legs and made the long and slow trek back  his family; where he would have to tell tem of the betrayal they had all been dealt and the failure he had become in not being able to protect his cousin.

As he neared the house, hours later, he dreaded the soon to come confrontation even more. He hated the idea of the disappointed, hate-filled, and disgusted looks he expected to see on his family's faces the moment he stepped into the house without his cousin, without his brother, without the heir.

He eventually stood outside one of the house's doors and quietly opened it, however, before he could step but two feet into the house he heard a gasp come from the kitchen table where his aunt and adopted father sat. Both looked drawn from worry and shock at the sight of him. He tried to make a run for the kitchen doorway but this father was faster and when he turned around he saw his aunt blocking the door out. So he dropped to the floor, covering his head and crying. He waited for the blows to come, the physical punishment that is warranted by his failure on his part, as his training of the last couple of months dictated.

His body was shaking from fear, exhaustion, and the sobs that racked through his frame. He was both unaware and completely aware of his surroundings. Every sound made his flinch, but instead of the hardwood floors of the only real home he had ever known, he sees the hard, cold cement ground of his prison for the last couple of months.

Remy jerked away from the hand that had gently touched his shaking shoulder, but calmed slightly at the soothing hushing sounds reaching his ears instead of angry curses. He slowly uncurled himself from the floor, and launched himself at his aunt, burrowing his head into her neck and whispering his apologies.

"Je suis désolé, s'il vous plaît pardonnez-moi. C'est ma faute s'il est mort. C'est de ma faute." He repeated again as Tante Kelly, his aunt, rocked him steadily, before he once again nodded off, this time in sleep as the excitement and adrenaline finally drained from his bone-tired body.

Professor Xavier and Jean pulled away from the memory, and stared down at the sobbing teenage projection of their teammate. Jean soothed him by pulling his head into her lap and running her fingers through his head. Slowly his sobbing quieted down before he completely passed out.

Jean and the professor left Remy's mind and returned back to their own bodies. They turned towards each other and Jean leant onto Xavier's shoulder. Inhaling sharply, Jean turned her head up and looked at the professor before asking the question that lay heavily on her mind. "Do you think he has many more memories like that?"

Xavier signed, his head bent down and his eyes closed, before shaking his head and muttering "I don't know Jean, I don't know." He gently laid a hand on her head and looked towards Remy, whose calm façade hid so much pain from everyone, and while he might not know all of what is hidden inside the young man's mind, and never will, he was sure that more horrors hid behind those poker eyes.

The two telepaths left the lab and headed back upstairs, leaving the comatose patient alone in the white and metallic sterile room. They were going back to their rooms to rest before they met in Xavier's office to discuss the next step they would take, and when.

In another lab, quite a distance away, laid another man in another bed recuperating from the day's events. However, whereas the last man was a victim in the circumstances surrounding these events, this angelic creature was a perpetrator; whose actions combined with another's are at fault for his current predicament. Warren lay, resting from the flight to his, hopefully, new allies. His arrival was a blur in his mind, because of the combined blood loss from the wound Wolverine managed to inflict on his person, and exhaustion from the physical journey.

His eyes snapped open as he felt the presence of another in the room he was being housed and turned towards the door. "Why hello, my little song bird, do you have something you wish to inform me of, or do I have to drag it out of you?" Sinister asked in a sickly sweet voice.

"I just might have something of interest to you, but I want certain concessions in return," Warren stated shrewdly.

"And what pray tell, are these concessions that you wish of me to grant?" Sinister inquired stepping closer to the temporary bed ridden mutant.

"Well, first I want amenity and acceptance into your ranks. I also want to be able to exact some revenge on the mutant I am giving the information about." Warren said conceitedly.

"You ask for quite a bit for someone who has aided in fouling my plans many times beforehand. How do I know this is not a trick the X-men are playing in order to storm my base?" Sinister asked, coming closer and closer to the prone body on the bed.

"Oh please, as if they would, even if they could. Their too soft to do anything like that, and besides their a little preoccupied with the unfinished business I left in my rooms." Warren exclaimed in a huff and turned his head away and up with the action.

While his attention was elsewhere, Sinister stepped closer and grabbed Warren's hair. He angled his head to face him and pulled his face a little forward. "And what pray tell, kind of mess did you leave?" His voice was calm, but it belied the intensity that was coming from his evil looking eyes.

"Well, I believe I left two white trash, emotionally unstable, fuck ups for the precious X-men to deal with." Warren said proudly looking in Sinister's eyes.

"What did you do?" Sinister's voice became deeper and colder, but Warren was oblivious to his precarious position.

"I set the trailer trash bitch on the swamp rat demon. I mean it was perfect, or it would've been, had it not been for the others coming in and messing up my fucking fun." Warren proudly said, before ending his statement in a snarl.

"You did what?!?" Sinister growled, and yanked Warren almost out of the bed. "Do you know what you've just possibly screwed up? Years, no decades, of planning have gone into cultivating my perfect weapon and you have potentially made him too unstable to be of any use to me." Sinister shook Warren around a little, before dropping him back on the bed and storming out of the room.

Sinister left the room holding Warren and entered the experiment labs, where his newest project lay. "Is he ready yet?" Sinister barked out at the mutant monitoring the experiment. "Almost sir, the specimen appears to have accepted the replacement well and there has been no rejection reaction or any sign of an infection having set in from the surgery." The young clinical man stated as he looked at the charts for the young mutant lying in front of him.

"Good, because his début has just been moved forward. I require his abilities immediately. So as soon as he gains consciousness report to me so that our new friend can get some on the job experience to work on his new abilities.

"Sir, I do not know if that is wise. Testing his powers in an unsecure area could lead to unknown and disastrous results." The other mutant replied hesitantly.

"I am well aware of the possible outcomes and I do not need you to remind me. However, do I need to remind you of your place?  Do I need to remind you of what I gave you upon your request; of what I can take away from you?" Sinister asked as he menacingly stepped closer and closer to the other scientist.

"N-n-n-n-no sir, I remember quite well. I am sorry for my insubordinate comment." The young man stuttered out.
 
"You are forgiven, this time. Besides, my new specimen will only be required to see if my pet has been damaged beyond salvage. If not, then he will serve as a shocking new enemy for the pathetic X-men.