CHAPTER 12
 

 "X-MEN, ASSEMBLE IN THE DANGER ROOM IMMEDIATELY!" Cerebro's mechanical voice resounded through the X-mansion. The X-men groaned as they filed out into the halls where the men and womens' dormatories interviened. They had all donned their uniforms and were all walking sluggishly due to the terribly early hour. It was only about four in the morning.

 "Summers is gonna regret draggin' me out a'bed like this," Wolverine  mumbled.

 "An' why's that, sir?" Sam yawned.

 "I can think a' six reasons, Hayseed!" Logan popped out his claws and thenretracted them. Sam decided to ignore being called "Hayseed". It was something Logan had always called him. And considering the fact that Logan's claws were the alternative if he complained about it, he really didn't mind it *that* much.

 The group shuffled down the halls, many still half asleep. Yawns and grumblings about being woken up so early dominated what little conversation there was. Jean and Scott came in through the back door, as they had to walk  up from the boathouse they had by the lake. They had moved in there when they had been married a few years ago.

 "So what, might I inquire is the gargantuan thought that has brought us all desheveled and restless from our beds, Fearless Leader?" Hank asked Scott. It took everyone a few moments to translate Hank's question into smaller, more understandable words. Bigs words were fine, but when too many of them were strung together the way Hank did, it was sometimes difficult to follow him and piece together what he'd said.

 "Couldn't you have at least waited until first light or something?" Bobby asked through his yawn.

 "I didn't call everyone out here. I thought it was the proffessor," Scott replied.

 "It was not me," the proffessor came forward in his hover chair, a silk robe covered his pajamas.

 "So what's going on. And where is Remy?" Bishop asked.

 "Maybe if we wnet to the Danger Room. That's were Crerebro told us to go, right?" Warren suggested. The group proceeded into the Danger Room.

 They poured into the Danger Room. It was relatively quiet and only the auxiliary lights were in, casting several shadows in the far corners of the room. The room was not in holographic mode and the steely floor and walls made their footsteps echo ever so slightly. A single chair was in the farthest corner, its occupant completely engulfed in the shadows.

 "Oh there you are," it was Gambit's voice. "I was beginning to think that none of you were coming."

 "Gambit?" Scott squinted behind his ruby quartz visor, trying to get his vision to pierce the darkness. He wasn't having much luck.

 "Yes?" he remained in the shadows. His legs were stretched out in front of him, ankles crossed and arms folded over his chest.

 "Remy, what are you doing? Why have you called everyone down here at such a time?" Xavier's tone demanded a response. Gambit didn't stir from his seat. No one could quite make out his face through the darkness.

 "Oh I just thought that I should inform you that if any one of you makes a wrong move, a bomb planted in this building will blow up the entire house not to mention take you with it." It was a blunt answer that caught everyone off guard, shocking them into silence. Only a faint growl was heard from Wolverine.

 Scott made a move to walk up to Gambit but Jean caught him with her telepathic thoughts.

 #Scott, don't! He isn't kidding!# her voice was urgent.

 #He can't be serious! This has got to be some sick game!# he answered incredulously.

 #No Scott, he means it!#

 No one, save Bishop, moved. Bishop made quick strides from the back of the room to where Gambit was sitting.

 "Remy what is the meaning of ...," he had only gotten three yards from Remy when his feet somehow caught to the floor. He tried to move them, but they wouldn't obey him. The X-men behind him tried to move as well, but couldn't. They were all stuck to the floor.

 "Oh isn't this a beautiful picture," Gambit finally stood up and walked into the light. He wasn't in uniform but the fadined ripped jeans and  over-sized black longsleeved shirt. He grinned at them mockingly. "The brave X-men all trapped and helpless."

 "Gambit, are you insane!!" Bishop demanded.

 "No," Gambit walked up to Bishop until he was only inches from the big man's face. "I'm just not Gambit."

 Bishop blinked. The form in front of him smiled wickedly, and his shape began to waver. His hieght lessened, from Remy's 6'2", to a shorter 5'11". The long reddish brown hair paled into blonde and the front ends pulled up into shaggy bangs. His complextion lightened considerably and his nose shortened and rounded. The mouth drew into a thin line and the red-on-black eyes shifted to a pale green. The jeans and black shirt shifted  to a brown leather jacket and black pants.

 Alex now stood before Bishop, his triumphant grin growing wider, noting the marvelous sense of shock that was reverberating through the room. Bishop swung his fist at the vampire and nearly lost his balance when his feet wouldn't follow the movement. Alex dodged easily.

 "Come Bishop, tantrums aren't going to get you, or your friends, anywhere." He stepped back to admire his trap. A faint choked cry Psylocke brought her to his attention. She brought her hand up to a now bloody nose.

 "Betsy, are you alright?!" Iceman was the closest one to her and he placed a hand on her shoulder. She didn't seem to have heard her at first but then slowly nodded. Bobboy asked, "What did you do?"

 "She's trying to telepathically undo the psychic hold on all of you.  Tsk, tsk, tsk, Ms. Braddock. I should warn you that anything that you try to use against me will only back fire on you." Alex answered.

 Bobby figured that he would try his luck anyway. A thin layer of ice formed ovre his body and the temperature in the room dropped noticeably. Ice spikes formed in front of his hands and he sent them flying in Alex's direction. They never made it. Halfway there, the spikes' momentum slowed until they hovered and then changed direction, flying towards Betsy and Bobby's heads. The two ducked and the ice shattered into the wall.

 "Told you."

 "Why are you doing this?" Jean cried.

 "Well I figure that if you in trouble, which you so obviously are, then LeBeau will have to come back to the Covenant. Either that or you all die in a brilliantly colorful explosion," Alex's overconfidence was grating on everbody's nerves.

 "So why didn't you just grab hold of us like this before?" Joseph inquired. "Why not just hold us in place as you are now and be done with us?"

 Alex considered this and then twisted his face into a pouty expression. He stuck his lower lip out and replied, "I didn't feel like it."

 "I say you play fair or you don't play at all!" The voice behind Alex made him jump. He turned only to have the someone's foot connect with Alex's chest. He fell backwards to the floor, narrowly missing Bishop. He blinked hard several times and glared up at the attacker. He was more than a little shocked to see the real Remy glowering down at him. Remy was obviously *not* happy.
 

END PART 12

 Spade