Chapter 3- Body Double Trouble


Bishop’s finger pulled back on the trigger, and a blast of energy began to emerge from the gun. Remy had his eyes shut as the heat from the nozzle washed over his face. Just as the beam erupted from the gun, something struck Bishop’s hand, and his shot was off. The beam crashed into the floor inches from Remy’s head. Bishop looked down at the floor, and discovered the shattered remains of a vase. He quickly turned his attention towards Rogue, whose chest quickly rose and fell as the adrenaline began to flood her system.

Shard quickly followed her brother’s glance with a look of surprise on her face. However, she barely had the chance to fix her gaze upon Rouge, because the young mutant dove on top of her. Both of the women hit the floor with a loud thud. Rogue wasted no time, and quickly pressed her bare hands on Shard’s face. Shard began to cry out in pain as Rogue’s hands touched her dark skin.

"Shard! Look out!" cried Bishop. However, his warning was too late. Rogue quickly got to her feet and stared at her hands as they began to glow with green energy. She held up her fists, aimed them at Bishop’s, and unleashed a blast that sent him soaring out the door and against the wall. Bishop’s body slid to the floor, unconscious.

Rogue quickly ran to Remy’s side to make sure that he was okay. When she reached him, she was greeted by a simple smile on his face. "Thanks, Cher," he said as he slowly got to his feet. As he did so, Rogue placed her gloves back on her hands. Remy looked at Bishop, and then fixed his gaze on Rogue again. He started to place his hand on her shoulder, but she quickly pushed it away. "What’s wrong, Rogue?"

"Leave, Remy," answered Rogue. "Leave now!"

"But, Rogue," he began.

"I only helped you because I didn’t want them to kill you," she replied.

"You still think I did it, don’t you?" he asked.

Rogue did her best to avoid his eyes and looked away. "I saw you on pull the trigger Remy," she said. "And so did the rest of America! Why? Why did you do it? I… I thought you were different."

"Rogue?" called Remy. He placed his hand on her shoulder and turned her around. He looked into her eyes, and saw the stream of tears run down her cheek. "Rogue, it wasn’t me. I promise."

"Too late, Cajun! The judgement is already in! And the only thing left to do is to pass your sentence! Death!" Remy and Rogue turned towards the door to see Bishop quickly approaching. His hands were glowing yellow with energy. Rogue fired another blast at Bishop’s chest. However, this time he seemed to soak up the energy blast like a sponge. "Thanks for the re-charge."

"You’re a mutant!" cried Remy.

"That’s right. My mutant ability is to absorb energy and re-direct right back at you!" Bishop raised his glowing fists and fired the bolts of energy at the pair of teens. Instinctively, Remy grabbed Rogue’s arm and ran towards the window. Without thinking he leaped through the glass and over the balcony.

Bishop rushed to the balcony and looked over the side in search of the teens. When he glanced over the ledge he couldn’t see any trace of them. Then, he felt a foot smash directly into his jaw. Bishop staggered back as he grasped his jaw. He looked up to find that Remy and Rogue had landed on a window washer platform hanging just outside the suite.

Bishop prepared to fire an energy blast at his target once again. This time there was no where to escape. Remy swallowed deeply as he prepared to accept his fate. Rogue immediately tried to rush in front of Remy and guard him from the blast. Remy raised his hand to prevent Rogue from getting in front, and inadvertently pushed her over the edge. Rogue quickly grabbed the railing on the platform as she hung on for her life.

"Rogue! Hang on!" cried Remy. He reached over the railing and grabbed Rogue’s hand, and started to pull her up. Then, Remy realized his mistake. He had left himself completely open for an attack from Bishop. He tried to push the thought from his mind as he continued to pull Rogue back onto the platform.

"So long, Cajun," said Bishop. He fist began to glow, and just as he released the energy from his fist, he felt an arm wrap around his neck from behind and throw his aim off. The blast went awry from its intended target, and hit one of the ropes stabilizing the platform. The rope snapped and one end of the platform dropped. Remy slid down to the falling side of the platform, and fell off. He was only managing to hold on with one hand on the platform, and Rogue in the other.

"Hang on Rogue!" cried Remy. "Ahhh!"

"Remy, what’s wrong?" said Rogue.

"My… my wound," he stammered. "Don’t know… how much longer… I can hold on."

Rogue had forgotten about Remy’s injury. He wouldn’t be able to hold on for much longer. Then, Rogue realized just how bad things could get. She looked up at the rope that was still holding the platform in place. Her heart sank as she noticed that the threads of the rope were coming apart. Rogue turned her gaze to Remy, and saw that his fingers were beginning to slip. With each passing second, all hopes of surviving were fading away.


Bishop reached behind his neck to see if he could get some sort of grip on his assailant. Eventually, he found what felt like a head. Bishop managed to wrap both of his hands around the head and proceeded to flip whomever had their arms gripped tightly around Bishop’s neck. Bishop succeeded, however, his assailant used the momentum to roll away and prepare for a second attack.

Then, Bishop realized who his attacker was. Logan rushed across the floor of the room towards Bishop who quickly fell onto his back and extended his legs upwards. As, Logan’s chest landed directly on top of Bishop’s feet. Bishop managed to push Logan partially back across the room, crashing into the coffee table. Logan quickly got to his feet and unleashed his claws as he prepared for another attack.

"Hold it," said Bishop as he kept his gun trained on Logan and reached for his waist to reveal the X-Men emblem on his belt buckle. "I’m on your side."

"Is that supposed to mean something to me, ‘Bub?" asked Logan.

"It should," Bishop paused before adding, "X-Man."

"Well, you know me, but I don’t know you," replied Logan. "So I’m giving you ten seconds to tell me who you are and why you’re here."

"Fine. My name is Bishop," he said. "And I’m from the future."

"Yeah, right," replied Logan. "If you’re from the future then, I’m Dorothy and this is Oz."

"Well, Dorothy," continued Bishop, "I’m a member of the Xavier Security Enforcement Agency, X.S.E. I’m here to stop LeBeau from assassinating Senator Kelly. Now, if you would stand out of the way, I may be able to actually finish my job."

"Whoa, cowboy," said Logan. "Why is this so important? I can see why you want to save a life, but traveling through time to change the future? There has to be something you aren’t telling me."

"We came back to prevent this assassination to change the future," said Bishop. "In my future things used to be bad, but now they’re worse. Before mutants were simply cataloged at birth like this." Bishop pointed to the "M" tattooed over his eye. "However, simply knowing isn’t good enough any more. Now, mutants are being forced to live in isolated areas in the country. And legislation has just been passed preventing any more mutants from being born."

"What are you talking about?" asked Logan.

"The government is taking the right of these people to have children," said Bishop. "Pregnancies are being terminated by mandate of law. Those don’t abide are executed. These people are no longer free citizen of this country. Their rights are being stripped away. And it all starts after LeBeau assassinates Senator Kelly! His death was the catalyst! Now, out of my way!"

"Bishop, wait!" said Logan. "He’s just a kid. You can’t just kill him."

"You got a better idea?" asked Bishop.

"Let me take him back with me," said Logan.

"I know all about your little cadre, the X-Men, and I know Charles Xavier," began Bishop.

"Then you know, Charles can help him!" interrupted Logan.

Bishop simply looked into Logan’s eyes as he considered the proposal. Then, he heard a beep. He reached into his leather trench coat and produced a small device, which he started staring at. "No!" said Bishop. He rushed to the balcony and looked over the edge. "LeBeau’s gone!"

Logan quickly ran to the balcony and looked over. "And so is Rogue. Where could they be?"

"At the hospital," said Bishop.

"How do you know?" asked Logan.

"Look," said Bishop as he handed Logan the small device he had been holding. Logan looked at the device. On the screen was a picture of a newspaper. The front page of the newspaper had a picture of Senator Kelly and a headline that read: MUTANTS ASSASSINATE SENATOR IN HOSPITAL. "Now, he’s got Rogue involved."

"Come on we have to get to the hospital now!" said Logan.

"Hold it right there, gentlemen," said a voice from the door. Logan and Bishop looked at the door as a dozen Secret Service agents filed into the room with their guns drawn and aimed at Bishop and Logan. Agent Greer stepped forward and said, "You two are under arrest for conspiracy to assassinate Senator Robert Kelly." Bishop and Logan looked at each other, and then turned their gaze back towards Greer. "Unfortunately, you chose to resist arrest, and left me with no other choice than to shoot you down like the filth you are! Men, prepare to fire."


As Rogue and Remy dangled several stories above the ground on a window washer platform hanging by only a thread, Rogue found their escape. She looked across from her and saw that they were only a few feet away from the balcony just underneath her suite.

"Remy, I think we can make it to that ledge if we swing just a little," suggested Rogue.

"Whatever you say Cher," replied Remy.

The two teens began to swing backwards and forwards towards the balcony. The room itself appeared to be vacant. As they swung farther and farther they heard more threads of the rope rip.

"We have to jump now!" cried Rogue. Then, on their next approach the Remy released his grip on Rogue, who landed safely on the balcony. "Come on, Remy," said Rogue. As Remy came back, the rope snapped. Remy extended his hands and grasped the ledge of the balcony. "Hold on!" cried Rogue as she pulled him up. "Are you okay?"

Remy nodded. Rogue stood up and turned to enter the room. She pushed the sliding door open and walked inside. Remy finally made his way to his feet, and walked inside the room as well. Rogue was standing at the door, looking through the peephole. Remy walked closer to see what was going on but Rogue gestured for him to remain still. She was obviously trying to listen.

"Ms. Wilcox, there you are," said an agent. "We just got a report from the hospital, it looks like the senator is going to make it."

"Really?" said Ms. Wilcox. "Do you think it would be okay if I headed to the hospital now."

"Yeah," replied Robert. "I’m sure the senator would be thrilled to see you. From what I hear, he’s still pretty eager to push his bill on through now more than ever."

"Thank you, Robert," said Ms. Wilcox. "You have no idea what that means to me."

Robert smiled and nodded as he left Ms. Wilcox alone. Once he was gone, Ms. Wilcox produced a cell phone from her purse and pressed a few numbers. After a few seconds she began speaking again. "It looks like Kelly survived… I know… I’ll take care of it… Within the hour, Robert Kelly will be nothing more than a memory." After placing her cell phone back into her purse, Ms. Wilcox disappeared into the nearest elevator.

"Now do you believe me?" asked Remy.

Rogue turned to him, with a sad expression on her face. "I’m sorry, Remy. I wanted to believe you, but the tape…."

"It’s okay, Rogue," said Remy. "I know dat your heart never betrayed me, despite everything that you saw." The two exchanged a brief smile. "Now, come on. We have to get to de hospital and stop dis woman before its too late."

"How are we supposed to get out of here and into the hospital?" asked Rogue.

"Cher," said Remy. "You’re with the thief dat stole your heart. Surely I have a plan."

"And just what is your plan Romeo?" said Rogue skeptically.

"We go out de same way I got in," he replied. And very cautiously the teens exited the room.

Bishop and Logan stared at the dozens of pistols directed towards them. They were surrounded in a room full of secret service agents that had just received the order to shoot them down. Bishop surveyed the room, and his eyes landed on his sister, Shard. He saw her eye open briefly and make contact with his own. Then, a smile started to spread onto Bishop’s face.

"Follow my lead," he told Logan.

Logan offered a slight nod of acknowledgement. Then, in the next few seconds, carnage filled the room as the attack begun. Bishop quickly lunged forward and smashed his fist into one of the agent’s face. Logan proceeded to do the same, and delivered a kick sending another agent into a lamp. As the two mutants fought their opponents, they failed to keep track of Agent Greer.

Greer stood behind both Bishop and Logan with a pair of guns and his aim trained on both of the mutants. However, before he could fire, he felt a brief blow from behind collide with his groin. Greer fell to his knees gasping in pain, but emitting no scream. He turned around to find his assailant to be the dark-skinned blonde that had been unconscious on the floor. Without hesitation, Shard delivered a swift kick to Greer’s temple, which sent him to the floor and rendered him unconscious.

Bishop, Shard and Logan looked at the agents sprawled all over the room. "Come on, people," said Logan. "We have to get to the hospital, like yesterday."

Shard glanced over at Bishop, who simply nodded that it was okay. "Well, how are we going to get out of here?" asked Shard. "The authorities definitely have the building sealed off by now, and I doubt their about to let us just prance right out?"

Logan’s eyes surveyed the bodies on the floor, and a thin smile began to spread across his face. He looked at the two X.S.E. officers as he kneeled to the floor next to one of the unconscious agents. "Hey, Bishop," began Logan, "I think this guy’s just about your size." As the understanding of what Logan was implying washed over Bishop and Shard, the two mutants kneeled to the floor and began peeling the suits off of the downed agents.


Rogue could feel her feet getting wet, as she and Remy sloshed through the sewers of New Orleans. She looked ahead of her and saw Remy continuing to move forward. He glanced back at her and smiled as he saw the scowl on her face. "Ah, c’mon, Cher!" said Remy. "It can’t be dat bad, can it?"

"Remy," began Rogue, "you have me walking through a sewer! Do I look like I’m enjoying myself?!"

"I’ll admit, dat it’s not my idea of de perfect date," he answered, "but de night is young." With that one remark, Remy watched Rogue as a smile spread across Rogue’s face. "Now, dat’s what I like to see." The teens continued to walk through the sewer corridor until Remy raised his hand and signaled Rogue to stop. "We’re here."

"How do you know?" asked Rogue.

"Let’s just say I’ve spent a lot of time running around down here," he answered. Rogue followed Remy’s lead to a ladder leading out of the sewers and into the lower floors of the hospital. With stealth, the pair of teens managed to work their way up to the main floor, where they slipped into a supply room and started searching for items they could use.

"Hey, we’d better put on some of these scrubs, so that we don’t stick out," suggested Rogue. She tossed a pair over to Remy. As he reached out to catch it, he winced and pain. "Are you okay?"

"I’ll be fine," said Remy. Rogue stared at Remy as he grunted in pain while pulling his shirt over his head. Once he had gotten the shirt off, Rogue’s eyes fell on the wound, which was near Remy’s ribs. She walked over towards him and kneeled down to get a better look at the wound. "I said I’d be okay."

"Maybe, but I’d better wrap this up," said Rogue.

"Really, Cher, I’m fine," replied Remy.

"Sit down!" said Rogue, as she pushed him gently down, so that he was sitting on a box. She left and returned with several first aid items in her possession. She kneeled down next to the wound and poured some disinfectant onto a towel. "This may sting a little."

She placed the cloth against Remy’s wound. The pain from the cloth being applied to his wound was clearly visible as he clenched his teeth tightly together. Slight grunts escaped his mouth as he did everything in his power to keep from screaming. Rogue pulled the cloth away, pursed her lips together and began to blow. The gentle breeze from her lips seemed to calm Remy.

"Is that better?" she asked as she looked up into his eyes.

"Yeah," said Remy as he stared back at her. For a moment both of the teens were lost in each other’s eyes, but Rogue quickly shook her head and came back to her senses.

"I’d better finish wrapping this up," she said. Remy only nodded. Rogue continued to wrap the wound, being careful not to make direct contact with Remy’s skin accidentally. As she did so, Remy explained how he got the wound as a result of his previous encounter with the people after him, Bishop and Shard.

As the two teens stood and prepared to exit the supply room, Remy grabbed Rogue’s arm and turned her around. "Listen, Cher," he began.

"It’s okay," she interrupted, "I know. And you’re welcome. Now, let’s go and stop that lady before she finishes off Senator Kelly." The teens exited the room, and started to look around. "Maybe we’ll have better luck if we split up," she suggested. Remy nodded and the two teens went their separate ways.


Logan, Bishop and Shard entered the hospital doors and headed directly towards the information desk. Bishop quickly reached into his pocket and flashed a badge at the attendant sitting at the desk. "I’m Special Agent Lucas Bishop, National Security. Can you give me the Senator’s room number please."

"I’m sorry, but I can’t give out that information," said the attendant.

"Woman, do you have any idea of the gravity of this situation? This is a nation incident, and the ramifications of tonight are too extreme for me to put into words! Now, I have an executive order from the President of the United States himself to see Senator Kelly! Now, are going tell me the senator’s room number, or should I make a phone call that will have this entire hospital crawling with national guards in under fifteen minutes while I search each room myself?!"

The woman at the information desk looked into Bishop’s eyes, and fear began to fill her heart. She immediately gave Bishop the information he desired, and the three mutants, dressed in dark suits and sunglasses (which they had removed from the agents back at the hotel) headed for the elevator.

"Not bad, Bishop," said Logan as the elevator doors closed.

"Interrogation always was my strong suit," Bishop replied. As the elevator ascended the hospital, Logan, Shard and Bishop remained silent, each of them hoping that they would arrive in time to prevent the disaster just over the horizon.


Rogue walked down the hospital hallway, and turned around the corner. Standing next to the door were two agents dressed in dark suits. Rogue new instantly that she had found the right room, however, Remy was no where in sight. Rogue quickly placed her hands on a nearby cart and began pushing it towards the door. When she reached it the pair of agents stepped in front of her.

It was obvious that they weren’t going to let her pass, so Rogue did the only thing she could think of. "I just saw the boy down the hall," she said. The eyes of the agents widened and they looked at each other.

"Are you sure?" asked on of the agents.

"Yeah, I remember his face from television. He was dressed in a pair of scrubs. I didn’t know what to do, so I came to tell you," replied Rogue.

"Come on, let’s grab ‘em," said the other agent. The two agents sprinted off into the direction Rogue had pointed them in, each reaching into their jackets (probably placing their hands on their weapons.) Once the agents were out of sight, Rogue stepped into the room. The sight before her made her heart stop beating!

"Remy!" shouted Rogue. Before her stood Remy, dressed in scrubs, with a gun pointed directly towards Senator Kelly. Rogue rushed towards him, and instinctively, Remy turned the gun towards Rogue. Rogue threw up her arm and knocked the gun out of Remy’s hand. She heard it clatter to the floor a few feet away. Then, the two mutants began to grapple each other, each trying to get control of the situation.

Remy, however, was stronger, and eventually he tossed Rogue to the floor and picked up the gun. He turned the gun towards Rogue, who paused. She had failed. There was no way she could avoid being shot, and there was no way she could save Senator Kelly. All she could hope to do would be to stall for time. "Why Remy?"

The young Cajun made no remarks at first. He simply allowed a smile to spread across his face as he shook his face. "Sorry, Rogue. If only you’d stayed out of this…." Remy lifted his hand and prepared to fire at Rogue. Just as he began to pull the trigger, he felt an object explode against his hand. Remy cried out in pain and cradled his hand against his chest. He turned towards the door to see his attacker.

"Remy?!" said Rogue as she stared at her love in the doorway. In his hand, were a few syringes, each glowing bright after being charged with kinetic energy. Rogue turned her gaze back towards the other Remy, still cradling his hand. "Then, who are you?"

Slowly, the image of Remy began to fade, and was replaced by the figure of a woman with blonde hair. She continued to stare at the young teens as Senator Kelly spoke out. "Ms. Wilcox?! But… but why?! Oh my God, you’re one of them. You’re a mutant."

Ms. Wilcox began to smile as she the expression of shock and confusion began to cloud their faces. "You pathetic fool," began Ms. Wilcox. "You have been nothing more than a puppet. We practically gave you everything you needed to stop mutants, and you were too stupid to realize the bigger picture."

"I don’t understand," said Senator Kelly slowly. "Why would you do that? Why would you help me?"

"Personally, I don’t care one way or another," she replied. "However, my employer sees this as a incredibly profitable opportunity."

"This is about money?" asked Rogue. "You sold out your fellow mutants, so that you could make a profit?"

"This is about science as well, Rogue," said Ms. Wilcox. "My employer would not only have been given federal grants for his research, he would also have been an icon in the scientific community. He would have been known as the man that eliminated the X-factor gene, they key to mutant DNA. A so-called cure for mutants."

"How do you know her name?" asked Remy.

Ms. Wilcox caught the expression of surprise on Rogue’s face. "Who are you to question me?" Ms. Wilcox started to come towards Remy, but quickly halted as Remy launched the charged syringes in her direction.

"De name’s Gambit! And your luck’s just run out," replied Remy. The syringes exploded about a foot in front of Mystique. The miniature explosions were powerful enough to keep Ms. Wilcox at bay. However, they also had another side effect.

"Mystique?!" cried Rogue. The explosion had caused Mystique to lose her concentration. As she did so, her pale image was replaced with her natural blue skin, and her blonde hair with red hair. Mystique stood tall as everyone glared at her.

"Very good, Rogue. I see your time with Xavier hasn’t diminished your intelligence," said Mystique. "Now, I suggest you brats get out of my way before I’m forced to kill you as well."

"I don’t think so lady," came another voice. Logan stepped through the door, walked past Remy and stood next to Rogue. Bishop and Shard entered the room as well. Bishop had his weapon trained on Mystique, and Shard was ready to fire her pulse blasts at Mystique as well.

"Well, played X-Men," said Mystique. "But this is far from over." Seeing that she was outnumbered Mystique raised her hands as if surrendering. However, when she opened her hand, a small pellet fell out and smashed open on the floor. When the pellet hit the floor and bright flash filled the room. By the time everyone’s eyes had refocused, Mystique was gone.

"All right, everybody freeze!" Everyone turned to the doorway to see a handful of agents storm into the room, with their weapons trained on everyone except Senator Kelly. Agent Greer stepped forward and placed his hand around Remy’s arm. "I knew I’d get you, son!"

"Release him, Agent Greer," said Senator Kelly. "The real assailant has escaped. It was a mutant. She posed as the boy and as Ms. Wilcox as well." Reluctantly, Greer released his grip on the boy's arm. "Get out here, all of you!" said Greer. Slowly, Logan and the other mutants began to file out of the room. As they did so, Ms. Wilcox came flying through the door, with a pair of agents with her.

"Senator, you will not believed what happened. Some woman locked me in a broom closet back at the hotel. It took these idiots two hours to find me!" she ranted. "Anyway, I’ve got the Anti-mutant bill directly off the presses, right here with me. All I need is your signature, and it’s on its way to Capitol Hill."

"I’m not signing it," said Senator Kelly. "Inform Dr. Essex, that I have reconsidered my position on the entire agenda. Mutants are humans too. We need to find another way… a better way to handle it."

"Of course, Senator," said Ms. Wilcox disappointedly.

"Wait!" cried Remy as he entered the room. "Did you say Essex? Nathaniel Essex?" Remy watched in horror as the senator nodded.

"Do you know him?" asked Senator Kelly.

"Unfortunately," replied Remy. Without another word he left the room, and walked in complete silence as he and the others left the hospital.


Rogue was sitting in the lobby of the hotel next to Remy, as Logan finished his good-byes with Bishop and Shard. "So, how is the future looking now?" asked Logan.

"It’s still the same," replied Bishop. "I guess that means that something else happened that caused things to get like they are. I guess Shard and I will have to keep looking until we find it."

"Good luck, then," said Logan.

Logan nodded and left the two mutants, dressed completely in black. Shard looked at her own scanner, and a smile spread across her face. "Hey Bishop, we may not have changed the future, but we did change something. Look." Bishop took the device into his hand and stared at the picture on the screen. He looked over at Rogue and Remy who were hugging each other, obviously saying good-bye.

"Well, I’ll be," said Bishop. "You mean that swamp-rat is going to be an X-Man?!"

"He don’t sweat it, big brother," said Shard. "We came back in time to change the future for the better. I’d say we’re doing a pretty good job so far." Bishop grunted as the smile on Shard’s face grew. Then, the two mysterious from the future turned and exited the door. After a brief flash of light, they vanished.


"So long, Rogue," said Remy.

"Remy, wait!" Rogue said, but the young teen continued walking without looking back. Rogue felt a hand land on her shoulder. She turned to see Logan staring down at her.

"C’mon, let’s go home," said Logan. As the pair began to exit the building, they heard Jean-Paul, the hotel host, come rushing after them.

"For you, mademoiselle," he said as he gracefully bowed and retreated after giving Rogue the letter. Rogue opened the letter and began reading the note.

"It’s from Remy," she said.

"What does it say?" asked Logan. Rogue smiled as she handed Logan the letter.

Rogue,

Save me a room at the mansion. Got some family issues to work out with my Uncle Nate first.

Remy

P.S. – Bet you’re smiling, now. Good, ‘cause that’s what I like to see.


THE END