CHAPTER 9
 

 Proffessor Charles Xavier, founder and mentor the X-men, surveyed the  group that had assembled in the War Room. Cyclops, Arcgangel, Wolverine, Iceman, Psylocke, Phoenix, Beast, Cannonball, Storm, Rogue, Gambit, Baishop, and the most recent addition to the team, Joseph. He didn't need his telepathic powers to tell that the silence was due mostly to shock and surprise. Gambit had been talking for a little over a half an hour. He told the X-men what he knew of Alex and what he was learning about the Covenant. The rules they went by had begun to form in his mind and the rankled with him. Everyone in the room had noticed the extra sharp teeth that had formed in his mouth, though they had tact enough not to point them out.

 They had figured out that Alex had used some sort of hypnosis to cause Bishop to black out. Bishop had caught the vampire coming up to the house and had tried to hit him with his plasma rifle. Unfortunately that hadn't quite worked out the way he had planned.

 Gambit also managed to straighten out some myths that were associated with vampires. It was true that if a full blooded vampire went out into the sunlight, that vampire would be burned and scorched to death if shadows weren't found quick enough. Remy being a half vampire would save him from that problem. A steak through the heart could kill them but things like holy water and crucifixes wouldn't do squat. He hadn't quite figured out all the rules of the Covenant, but they were forming fast in his mind. Remy was clearly uncomfortable about the entire thing.

 Gambit had always been a hard person to read but the tension he was feeling practically projected off him. Psylocke, Elisabeth Braddock, could see that. Among other things, she was also sensing a deep dread forming in him. His powers were strengthening and he was trying his best to hold on to his control. She noticed he had kept his hands folded under his arms. He usually leaned against the table, and she had to wonder if he was afraid he would lose control and end up charging the table. She had seen the damage his powers did in closed quarters and wasn't sure that she was prepared for what might occur if that happened. Gambit had never had trouble controling his powers since he had been with the X-men and had never mentioned trouble keeping control before then. Elisabeth considered mentioing the power surge she was sensing, Remy hadn't mentioned it and obviously wasn't going to. But she didn't get a chance.

  Warren Wortington III, otherwise known as Archangel, brought up the fact that if Alex could sneak past defenses without either Cerebro or anyone else detecting him, they would need some sort of defense. Someone with that much ability to tresspass unnoticed who was so obviously willing to harm them to get to one of their own would prove to be a major problem. They had begun to discuss possilbe ways of keeping him out when Gambit suddenly stood up. He left the room rather quickly, and Ororo had to wonder if he had started running when the door closed behind him.

 "Ah'll go and see if he's alright, sir," Sam Guthrie, known as Cannonball stood and followed after Remy.

 The blonde boy caught up with Gambit about five minutes later. He wasn't running when Sam saw him and he racked his brain for some sort of explaination as to how Gambit had gotten so far without doing so.

 "I'm fine, Sam," Remy muttered without turning around.

 "Pardon, sir, but that's a flat out lie an' you know it," Sam replied.

 "Don't call me 'sir', Sam. Ya gonna make me feel old," Remy gave him a side long glance before returning his gaze in front of him.

 Sam stared at the Cajun for a long moment. He didn't know the man very well and was trying to understand why he had come after Gambit. Perhaps it was curiousity. The man has been an enigma to the entire group and though the recent events didn't even come close to shedding some light on who he was, it gave a unique insight on who he might have been.

 "So," Sam broke the silence, "where exactly are ya headin'?"

 "Danger Room. I just..need to blow somethin' up. I'd rather not get any body else hurt while I'm at it. Guess the Danger Room is the safest place to do that."

 Sam understood that feeling. He could remember being so frustrated and mad that one needed to take it out on something. The Danger Room probably was the most safe place to do that in. He had to wonder what Gambit was going through.  To him, Remy had always had this unbreakable, in-control air about him. He seemed down right arrogant at times. Seeing that waver was somewhat disconcerting.

 "Ya wouldn't mind if Ah joined you, would ya?" Sam asked. Remy nearly stopped walking and looked Sam in the face.

 "Sure," he said after a moment. Then added, "Jus' don't get too close to anything that I'm about to blow up. I'd have a hard time explainin' to your sister, Paige, that I accident'ly blew you up into tiny pieces."

 He and Sam spent the next few hours being extremely edstructive in the Danger Room.
 

END PART 9

 
 Sounds like a character building chapter to me. Hhhmmmmm...
 Spade